Always enjoyed our visits to Osoyoos with Ralph and Virginia.  They always made us feel so welcome. Enjoyed sitting on the deck sipping homemade wine and listening to his stories. He was a great story teller and had an amazing memory.  

Love Linda, Rachel and Jake Moore

Virginia, Maureen, Tony & Family
Even though we couldn't be with you for the celebration of life our hearts and thoughts were with you all.  As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

We will always remember Ralph's smile and laugh, his endless jokes and will miss his calls on our birthday's.
Love, Debbie & Terry

Dear Family & friends
Thank you for all the flowers, emails,donations to the Hospice, cards, letters the expressions of sympathy, & particularly all the love & prayers.. 

Your kindnesses will always be remembered..
Virginia & family

Virginia, Val and family,
Our sympathy goes out to all of your family. We were blessed to have met and spent some great times with Ralph, Virginia and Val while in Maui a couple of years ago and then,at our mini reunion of Maui friends the next summer. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. We will miss him. Hold the memories dear.

Ralph always welcomed us into his home with warm, open arms.  He loved to laugh!  Ralph made his house, a home.  He loved his wife Virginia dearly, she was (and is) his soul mate.  The tribute to his character are his 5 wonderful children, whom have all grown up to be the finest of human beings.  We will all miss him.

With the greatest of love & respect,

I remember all the times Auntie Virginia and Uncle Ralph would come to Selkirk to visit. They always spent time at my Mom and Dad's.  I remember Uncle Ralph as ALWAYS smiling, and yes, his eyes would twinkle.  He always called me sweetie and even though I never got the chance to see him very often, he was still so close to my heart.  I was am so happy that I was able to make it to the Piapot/Sanderson reunion last summer as it was the last visit I got with Uncle Ralph. Uncle Ralph made a point of coming and sitting with me at dinner (which made me feel special), and then I chuckled when Uncle Ralph and Arto pulled their chairs up front for the slide show.  They kept each other entertained - Arto still speaks of it!!! I remember the day we left Piapot and after I said my good bye to Uncle Ralph he whispered in my ear "I love you sweetie". I was a wreck after that and blumbered through the rest of my good byes.  I will miss you Uncle Ralph, but I am sure you having a great visit with Mom and Dad again. Myself, Arto and my family send our sincere condolences to the whole family -- you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Arto Kujanen, Laurie, Taylor and Cole Popoff
Selkirk, Manitoba

Dear Johannesen family,
We were so sorry to hear the sad news about Ralphie! At least he isn't suffering any longer and is finally at peace. We feel privileged to have been involved in many of your family events and always enjoyed chatting with the “old man” in the corner chair. Ralph always had a twinkle in his eye and a joke for all occasions. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
All our love,
Barry, Denise, Ally, Claire & Carmen

Our dearest Virginia,
We were so sorry to hear the sad news that your beloved Ralph had passed away. You have been in our thoughts and prayers. We so enjoyed spending time with you both and will miss seeing Ralph's smiling face, along with his series of jokes.
All our love,
Barry, Denise, Ally, Claire & Carmen

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all. We have many wonderful memories of Grandpa Sanderson. He will be very much missed. 
With all our love,
Chad, Heather, Sarah, Nathan and Hannah

Dear family.  We had the great fortune of spending quality time with Ralph and Virginia when we first met in Hawaii two years ago.  We revisited those great moments with your parents, Becky and Jerry Klien and Sharon and Harvey Wiltse over lunch at Joyce Reimer's lovely home in Osoyoos last year.  Though our time together was short, we enjoyed Raph's many stories and good humour. Our sympathies and thoughts are with you all.
Donna and Ray Halladay, Penticton, BC.

Dear Sanderson Family
My thoughts and love are with all of you. Ralph was a wonderful man and I know you all have wonderful memories to cherish forever. Take care of each other.
All the best
Jill Walker

Eldon, Sarina and Eric,
Sending you our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
With deepest condolences.
Love, Denise, Dennis, Tyler Lauinger
Bob and Donna Whitmore

August 6, 2012
Memories of Ralph Sanderson…

In 1967, two young people, Doug and Helen Jamieson, arrived in Quesnel to begin a career teaching school.  Needing gas for their 1956 Plymouth, they pulled in at the Shell Station behind the Billy Barker Hotel and filled up. 

The first person they met in Quesnel was a friendly man whose eyes twinkled as he told them that his kids would probably be in their classes. That was Ralph, the first person to welcome us to Quesnel. True to his word, the kids became our students and friends. Ralph and Virginia have remained so to this day, although our visits were far too few as the years passed.

We are so appreciative of Ralph for the friendly advice and help in keeping our old jalopy on the road for those first couple of years. It was Ralph, who more than once, replaced the broken manifold which cracked driving on the all the backroads.  In 1968, he congratulated us for buying a new vehicle, knowing that he didn't have to wonder if we'd make it around town anymore.

In time, Ralph sold his station and made a career move to construction. He made his mark here, leaving many lovely homes for Quesnel families to raise their children…and even a road named in his honour.

Ralph and Virginia were wonderful parents to their five great kids. We saw them at sports days,  Maureen's games and luckily not in the school offices!! As time progressed, some of the grandchildren became Doug's students and even a star member of his team …. right, Erin?

For many years while Ralph and Virginia have lived away from Quesnel, we have exchanged Christmas greetings and occasional visits. Thanks to the Internet, we have been able to keep in closer touch with each other. We enjoyed a wonderful visit in their home in Osoyoos two years ago, laughing about the many challenges of raising a family. It was there that we learned of Ralph and Virginia's impending move to North Vancouver.

Last week, we were deeply saddened to receive Virginia's call to tell us of Ralph's passing. We knew Ralph had been in poor health. We will miss our friend a lot but the memories will always stay with us.  We send our sincere condolences to all the  Sanderson family. We hope that you will continue to keep in touch with us.

Love always,
Doug and Helen

What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch.  But little by little, we begin to remember not just that Ralph died, but that he lived.....and that life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.  Our sincere condolences to a special family.  love & hugs to all

Words cannot express the sorrow we feel on losing our beloved Uncle Ralph. He was always full of stories and jokes, (some of them pretty bad), and warm hugs and kisses. We enjoyed the times he and Aunt Virginia stayed at our place, when we'd talk about our family history and get him to go through old photos to help identify people I didn't know.I loved to make him laugh so I could watch him jiggle all over, and the tears run down his face. He was a easy mark! I'd love when he'd tell stories about my older brothers, Keith and Les, when they would come out to Piapot for the summers, and he and his brothers would make a race out of doing the chores, and Keith and Les would end up doing all the work, in the sweltering heat, while he and his brothers would stay in the shade, laughing like crazy and encouraging them to work faster and faster for a nickel. They also convinced them one night at supper, that they could speak Chinese, with even Grandpa joining in . Ralph would babble something, and Grandpa would pass him the potatoes, then George would babble something to Alfred, and he'd pass the meat, and so on. Keith and Les were absolutely convinced they could speak fluent Chinese! We'd laugh and laugh whenever he told that story. And, of course, the tears would be running down all our cheeks! (I think it's a genetic thing, cause we all cry when we laugh)! I bet Uncle Ralph, Uncle George, Uncle Alfred, Grandpa and my brother Keith, are all speaking Chinese to each other, and laughing and jiggling, as tears stream down their cheeks. I pray it is so. 
Uncle Ralph was one of a kind, loyal husband, loving father and grandfather, true friend, and adored uncle. I'll miss him so much, at reunions and family functions, and his regular phone calls. I'll miss his voice saying, "Give our love to all, and love you". And I'd answer, "Love you too". I'll always wish I could hear him say it one more time. But, I'll whisper it to him when I say my prayers at night, as he now joins the list of loved ones that have gone on before. I wish you peace and rest, dear uncle, until we meet again. Then we can laugh together forever.
Love forever and always, Donna & Ray Cherniak

Dear Aunty Virginia and my sweet cousins:

We were very sad when we hear about Uncle Ralph's passing.  We loved him very much and enjoyed many laughs.  My father and Uncle Ralph were good friends and I see why!!!     We love you all and please know that your Calgary family is thinking about you!!!    Much love to all!!!!

Aunty Virginia and my wonderful cousins:
We are so sorry for your loss.  We loved Uncle Ralph very much, and will miss the harassment when the Canucks play the Flames!  My father and my uncle had some fun times in Piapot and I love to hear the stories!    Please take care and know that your Calgary family sends their love!!!     xoxo

Dearest Aunt Virginia and family,
Uncle Ralph in our minds will always be "The Man with the best Jokes".We always looked forward to your visits because we knew that we were in store for a few good laughs and some "Warm Hugs too!"His legacy will live on in the wonderful family you have raised together. We are truly blessed to have had Uncle Ralph in our lives and continue that blessing with all of you! Love and hugs to you all and you are in our thoughts!
Love Stanice, Roger Branden and Tyler
Brad, Sarah, and Nicole
Evelyn and Jack  (Medicine Hat, Alberta)

I am so grateful for the time we had together since mid April. I enjoyed all of our talks that made us laugh & cry. I think we helped make all of your wishes come true with regards to your End of Life. I am so proud of you for the strength you showed through all that you had to deal with. I will miss you forever,your love is in my heart always. You are in the arms of angels at peace now. Love, Val

The wisecracks of Mr. Sanderson were relayed into the Johannesen household when my brother started dating his best friend's sister.  Ralph garnered and earned respect (DJ called him MR. for many years).  Sitting down with Ralph meant you would walk away with a sore jaw from laughing.  He was a wealth of information and never lost his passion for learning.  I raise a glass to you and for you Ralph.  Let us remember the smiling, the laughing, the talking, the sharing, the caring, and the loving.  Let us remember the good times --- always.

I miss you Daddy .......my heart aches each day,  I love you and all the memories I have of you, be a good boy till we meet again.  All my love forever

Virginia and Family,

So sorry for your loss.I will always remember Ralph for his smile and sense of humor.So many stories told by Mom and Dad,and many fun times witnessed first hand.You are all in my thoughts.

Dear Virginia and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, through this difficult time of your loss. Gerry and I had great laughs and fun, telling stories and jokes, when we got together with you and Ralph in Medicine Hat. Ralph was always so jolly, with such a great smile, which we will never forget. We will hear his laughter forever. He was a great gentleman, with a beautiful wife and family. You always made us feel like family. We loved the phone calls at Xmas, and again on April 19, when Gerry and you would wish each other Birthday greetings, while Ralph and I would talk about us two, being young and laugh at yous getting older. Thanks for the great phone calls and memories. We love you. Take care of yourself. xo

Dear Virginia and Family,
We were so sorry to hear about Ralph's passing.  We know he is at peace and no longer suffering.  Jerry and I feel so blessed being able to meet and spend time with the both of you in Hawaii along with our many e-mails.  We will keep you and your family in our prayers.

Love,
Becky and Jerry Cline
Chelan, Washington

Dear Virginia and family - - so sorry to hear about Ralph's passing, he will be loving remembered by all of our family.  I will always think of him with a smile on his face and all of the fun times we all had together.  You are all in our prayers during this time of sorrow.  Our love to you all.

Dear DJ and Val and families---- my heart goes out to you during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.

Some people come through our lives and worm their way into your heart.  That is just what Ralph Sanderson did with us.  A smile comes on my face when I think of him.  The family is in our thoughts and prayers.  I hope there will be many evenings of laughter when remembering some of the things my dear Mr. Puddles did.

Dear Maureen, Tony and family
We are very sorry to hear of the passing of your father.  I know how much he meant to you and the rest of your family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
Doug, Luana, John, Daniel and Alyssa Lauder

OBITUARY

Mr. Ralph Sanderson

June 25, 1929 – July 30, 2012

Hollyburn Funeral Home

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