Ralph Snell Seely

Ralph (known lovingly by his children as Phlar) passed away peacefully at age 95 at the Legacy House Memory Care Center in Farmington, Utah, on Sunday, January 8, 2023. He was the son of Everett J. and Leah Seely, born in Salt Lake City at Holy Cross Hospital in the same maternity ward and one day earlier than his future wife Marilyn. It was literally love at first sight.

Ralph was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Butte, Montana, and returned to Salt Lake City to attend East High School before enlisting in the Merchant Marines and then the Army, where he served as a paratrooper stationed in Japan after WWII. He then returned to Salt Lake City where he studied electrical engineering at the University of Utah for three years. At this time, he met Marilyn Duke who was also studying at the U. of U. and they were married in 1949 and remained together for 56 years until her death in 2005.

Ralph worked briefly as an electrician and portrait photographer before beginning his career of 35 years of civil service at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, starting as an aircraft mechanic and working his way up to a missile defense engineer. He could fix anything and never hired a mechanic or repairman. Ralph and Marilyn raised seven children, moving to Bountiful, Utah, in 1957 where they lived the remainder of their years.

Ralph enjoyed skiing, golfing, photography, camping, music on his father's handmade hi-fi, bbq and beer, Dick's doughnuts, and later in life time spent at his trailer in Star Valley, Wyoming, as well as traveling the world with his wife and daughters. His dry sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him, including all the nursing assistants he flirted with during his years in assisted living.

Ralph is survived by his children, Kathy Hastings, Stephen Seely, David Seely (Debbie), Scott Seely (Katheryn), Deborah Ogden, Barbara Hillman, and Robert Seely, as well as nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his infant son Mark Seely, sister Barbara Seely, brother Jack Seely, son-in-law John Hastings, and his loving wife Marilyn.

A small graveside memorial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January, 13, 2023, at Wasatch Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com.