Gordon Ragsdale

Gordon Ray Ragsdale, age 82, of Mesa, Ariz. passed away Nov, 26 2022. 

Born in Richmond, Minn. on May 24, 1940, the second child of John and Ollive Ragsdale, Gordon graduated from Kearney City High School and later attended college in Fort Collins, Colo.. 

He then went to Pittsburg, Pa. to begin his career with Northwest Airlines. He was transferred to Helena, Mont. where he met his wife of 57 years, Ginger Tiensvold June 1963, was engaged in July and married on Aug. 3 of that year. Gordon was drafted into the U.S. Army and Ginger followed him to Ft. Sill, Okla. and later to Germany were their son Ray was born. After discharge in 1965 the couple returned to Helena, Mont. where their daughter Peggy was born and lived there until 1969 when they relocated to Apple Valley, Minn. Gordon worked for Northwest Airlines and the couple was able to travel extensively in the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii, several countries in Europe and several in Asia. They moved to Kansas City, MO in 1990 and returned to Apple Valley, Minn. in 1994. They relocated to Nisswa, Minn. in 2004 and then bought a home in Mesa, Ariz. in 2009 and became “Snowbirds” in the winter. 

Gordon and Ginger enjoyed dancing in Minn. where the couple was part of a competition dance team for a number of years. His favorite hobbies were Fishing, Bowling, and Golfing. He was a member of the American Legion and the Moose Club. 

Gordon is survived by his son Ray A. Ragsdale, Park City, Utah, daughter Peggy S. Schmidt (Fred), full time RV’ers, grandchildren Samantha R Ragsdale, Rosemount, Minn. and Adam J Ragsdale, Berlin, Germany. As well as many nieces and nephews. His ashes will be shared with his wife Ginger in a niche at Lebanon Cemetery in Apple Valley, Minn. across the road from where the couple lived for many years, as well as locations in Montana, and northern Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his wife Ginger Ragsdale.