Ralph David Merry died on January 23 ^rd , 2022 with his mother, sisters and friends around him.   Ralphie (RD) was born in Butte on December 24 ^th , 1956. His Dad and Mom brought him home to the house in Centerville on Center Street where he joined his 2 older sisters.   Ralphie was joined by more sisters and a brother, so they soon outgrew the house in Centerville and moved to the flats on Ottawa street in 1965. In a house full of 8 kids, there was always trouble brewing and being outnumbered with 6 sisters, Ralphie was usually the instigator. He was never allowed to hit his sisters so he would spit chewing tobacco on them instead.

Ralphie loved to hunt, rodeoed in high school and was up to many shenanigans with his friends in his early years. These friendships endured through his whole life as do the secrets they all carry about each other. Ralphie graduated Bute High School in 1974.   His folks owned the ElMar bar in Butte and as the story goes, Ralphie rode his horse, Creed, in the bar, till his dad threatened to shoot them both.

Ralph followed his family to Dillon, Mt. in 1977 where he worked at Roberts Food Grocery store with his father. Bummer, dad's nickname for Ralph, worked throughout the store. He loved going out on the delivery truck so he could talk to folks, his sister always remembers he refused, flat refused, to stock the women's maxi pads and his dad would have to go stock them instead.

Ralph was lucky enough to also work many years with his mother going antiquing all over the country. Ralph was a quick learner and loved to collect and trade tokens, bottles, and anything having to do with politics.     His Mom tells the story of them driving all the way to the Dakotas for an antique show and it had been held the weekend before.   So, they just looked for antiques on their way back.   They loved to go to Klapans for a red beer after a hard day of junkin.

He lived in Butte and Dillon over the years. Bartended at many bars in both cities.   He tended bar at Mahoney's where he loved to talk politics and history with the patrons.

For a person who could careless about reading at graduation, he took on the world through books. He never tired of books, and they were one true deep love of his life. "He loved surrounding himself with artifacts from bygone days and took himself back to those days through books that he collected, read and retained the knowledge they contained." He also loved Butte and worked to uncover all the secrets she held. His friend, Dustin, said "many deals were made over soda pop and a wop chop. Sometimes a trading session would take hours and eventually when the deal was done, he knew he got the better end of It. Ralph would cruise all over Butte scoping out estate sales, garage clean outs, and of course his favorite shops. Ralph's group of friends was so large that most of the time he was the first to know about anything going on. If any of us ever had a question, one call to Ralph likely lead to an answer. Ralph had been struggling with his health for some time. Even when he was feeling terrible, he still picked up the phone to check on his friends and see what was going on.   Ralph never got jealous about someone else's good fortune. When friends would bring over their latest finds to show him, his eyes would light up and he enjoyed being part of the excitement. But behind that excitement his brain was racing as he was figuring out how he would trade me out of that treasure someday. "

Ralphie was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Donald Merry, his brother, Francis Merry, brother-in-law Scott Shea and his nephews Michael Shea and Logan Crampton. He also loved his dogs over the years, Dobie, Sam and Jake. And his horse's Creed and Charlie.

He leaves behind his mother, Eleanor Merry, sisters, Kathleen Lee (John), Colleen Duffy (Dan), Eileen Shea, Gayleen Reynolds (TJ), Pauleen Christensen (Clark) and Rayleen Crampton (Ted).   And many nieces and nephews.

Also so many faithful friends: Duston, John L, Mark R., John F., Sassy, David, Jason, Wayne, Lacey

Private family services will be held Friday so we can keep everyone healthy.