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Ralph Bartholomew died on May 28, 2026 at Seven Lakes Memory Care in Loveland, Colorado, after a decade of living with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 80 years old. His life was filled with good works, many friendships, a loving family, and many, many laughs.
The fifth of 11 children, Ralph was born April 11, 1946, in Wall, South Dakota, to George and Bessie Bartholomew. When Ralph was a toddler, the family moved to Lemmon, South Dakota, where Ralph grew up attending St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School and Lemmon High School. He attended South Dakota State University where he was a cross country and track athlete, graduating in 1969 with a pharmacy degree. He married his high school sweetheart, Fern Kane, on Oct. 22, 1966.
With his degree in hand, the couple moved to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, where he worked in a drugstore for 11 years before buying and operating the drugstore in Saratoga, Wyoming. In Saratoga, Ralph was an active participant in the Chamber of Commerce, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, and other organizations. In 1993, the family moved to Worland, Wyoming, where Ralph was the pharmacist for the Pepsi clinic. The family enjoyed life on a 15-acre ranchette with dogs, cats, hamsters, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens, turkeys and a trout pond. Ralph and family moved to Powell, Wyoming, in 2006. Ralph’s career as a pharmacist wound down as he worked part-time for local pharmacies as well for clinics in Arizona and Alaska. He formally retired in 2015.
His greatest loves were his family and being a pharmacist. He enjoyed hunting big game and pheasants, fishing, hiking, camping, drawing, painting and running (he completed his first marathon at 65 years of age). He shared these passions with his children and grandchildren, always making time for family. He was an ever-present dad, cheering them on in their many athletic endeavors, be it basketball, football, volleyball, cross country, track or soccer. Ralph’s greatest accomplishment was to raise and guide his children into adulthood. He knew education was the key to their future, and all seven children obtained college degrees.
While Alzheimer’s stole many of his retirement years, he and Fern still enjoyed trips to visit their children throughout the country and reunions with friends in the Black Hills. They enjoyed visits to Yellowstone Park, and took three cruises. An experience of a lifetime for Ralph and Fern was an African safari in 2008.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (Bill, Tom and David) and one sister (Jean).
He will be missed and forever loved by his beloved wife of 59 years, and his children and grandchildren. Stephanie of Maine; Paula (Tom) Wells of Falls Church, Virginia; Jill (Ken) Holyfield of Montrose, Colorado; Dean (Tonya) Bartholomew of Powell, Wyoming; Nancy (Ben) Drenth of Fort Collins, Colorado; Mark (Carrie) Bartholomew of Kansas City, Missouri; Nicole (Jason) Laughton of Edmond, Oklahoma. His 11 grandchildren are Aidan, Fern Marie, Molly, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Kaley, Jenna, Ethan, Anna, Michael and Ellie.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Saratoga, Wyoming, on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
Burial with gravesite services will be held Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at Morristown Cemetery in Morristown, South Dakota.
