Ralph William Luther

HAMILTON - Ralph William Luther went to be with his Lord, dying peacefully at home on the ranch he shared with his wife, Penny, near Hamilton Montana on April 8, 2024, at the age of 97.

He is survived by his wife, their children, Steve and wife Sara, Karen and husband Steve, and Linda and husband Don, six grandchildren and spouses, and eight great grandchildren, all of whom were surrounded by his love and warmth.

Ralph grew up in West Michigan where he flew private planes, raced stock cars at a local track and worked various jobs as a young man. He fought in World War II as a paratrooper in the Pacific Theater with the 511th Parachute Infantry and served in the occupation army in post-war Japan.

Ralph and Penny were married in Los Angeles, California on Valentine’s Day in 1953. They moved to New York in 1955 where he began a lifelong career as a commercial pilot for Pan American Airlines, and later for United Airlines, moving their family from one coast to the other as part of the job. In 1968, he moved his family to a ranch in the Bitterroot valley, Montana, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Ralph retired from flying in 1986 at the age of 60.

Ralph enjoyed the outdoors and spent much of his spare time fishing, hunting, mining and rock hounding. He also enjoyed a good hat and had a quirky sense of humor. He has been, and is still, beloved by his family and many friends.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 16 at 11:00 am in the Daly-Leach Chapel, 1010 W. Main St., Hamilton, MT.  There will be a reception following the chapel services in the funeral home’s community room.  Graveside services with full Military Honors will be held at 2:00 pm at Victor Cemetery, 2588 Chief Victor Camp Rd.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com. 

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