Ralph Merle McCoy

Age 68

Of Onamia

Passed away on June 20, 2011. Survived by Wife, Gail; Children, Michelle (David) DeGroot & Doug (Heather) McCoy; Grandchildren, Katelynn & Isaac DeGroot and Victoria & Elizabeth McCoy; Brother, Richard (Andrea) McCoy; Sisters, Florence “Susie” (George) Turney, Carol Tremper, Marsha (Charlie) Kyser & Donna “Jeannie” (Mike) Shelly; Nephews, Todd (Jodi) Fisher, Tim (Nicole) McCoy, Joel Turney & Adam Turney; Nieces, Krissy (Roger) Schalk, Joy (Chris) Hartman, Kara Kyser & Kiley Kyser; Many Great-Nieces & Great-Nephews; and Dear Friends. Preceded by Parents, Leo and Joyce (Blount) McCoy of Houghton Lake, Michigan.

Ralph joined Mortenson in 1978 as a project manager and, over the next 23 years, applied his knowledge and skill as a builder and construction professional to help launch the company into a new era of construction. He provided Mortenson with the ability to undertake larger and more complex projects. Ralph retired from Mortenson in 2001 as a vice president.

During his career, Ralph had responsibility for many notable projects, including Norwest Bank Data Center, Lutheran Brotherhood, Minneapolis V.A. Hospital, Dulles International Airport, Denver International Airport, and the Grand Forks flood recovery. Whether Ralph was on-site or providing oversight of a group, his leadership and command of every detail produced a positive outcome. Ralph not only built the buildings but lasting relationships as well.

When the Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the Northwestern Bank Building in downtown Minneapolis in 1982, Ralph and his team were on the scene the following day. Tom Parish, retired president of Wells Fargo Properties, said: “Ralph and his team put flood lights on Seventh Street and worked around the clock to install a construction skip. They coordinated every aspect of the aftermath and gave us exactly what we needed.” When Mortenson was selected to build the new Wells Fargo bank headquarters, Ralph was vice president and construction executive on the project. Jim Campbell, retired chairman and CEO, Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota said of Ralph: “[He was] the daily presence that represented Mortenson. Here was this experienced, talented, hardworking, aggressive, customer-oriented guy whose job it was to get there early in the morning, work all day and be sure we had a building that would thrill us for the rest of our lives. . .and he did.”

Ralph’s most profound legacy at Mortenson is his mentoring of many of our company’s leaders. Today, they carry the knowledge and experience gained from working with him. Ralph’s skill and effectiveness as a mentor and role model is evident by the admiration and respect with which he is held. When Ralph was interviewed for our company’s history book, he described how he viewed his role: “My job was to support our people in the field. At some point, everyone has a crisis.. . .Ninety-nine percent of the time they’d figure the problem out on their own. Often, they just needed to talk. They had the skills, they just needed a shot of confidence.” We will miss Ralph’s wise counsel and good judgment.

Memorial Service on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 2 pm at Woodbury United Methodist Church, 7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury. Visitation at the church at 1 pm.

Memorials preferred to Mayo Clinic Mesothelioma Cancer Research Program or Via de Cristo United Methodist Fellowship, Scottsdale, AZ. Memorials to the Mayo Clinic can be made online https://development-comm.mayoclinic.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=191&srcid=191 or mailed to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905. Please include the complete program name under the “Other Designation” if giving online or in the memo line of your check.

Memorials to Via de Cristo United Methodist Fellowship can be sent to 7430 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

Arrangements under the direction of Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, Woodbury, MN. 651-738-9615