Ralph Knute Warnstrom, 72, died Saturday,Nov. 28, 2009, at his home in Butte.

      Ralph was born in Butte on Aug. 23, 1937, to Knute and June (Gneiting) Warnstrom.   He attended Harrison Grade School and Butte High School, graduating in 1955.   He served active duty with the United States Navy from February 1957 to February 1959 as an electrician mate, being honorably discharged February 1963.

      On Nov. 4, 1960, Ralph married Kay Spolar in Butte, and together they were the proud parents of two outstanding children, Ralph “Rod” and Cindy.

      Ralph was an electrician by trade with the IBEW for 45 years, having achieved his journeymanship through the Navy and the Anaconda Co. in 1962.   He worked in various electrical shops in Butte until September of 1981, when he opened Arc Electric, which he successfully managed until his retirement in 2005.   His son Rod and daughter Cindy now manage the business, but he always let them know he was checking on them just to be sure it was being operated “his way.”   Ralph was always mechanically oriented, having drag raced in the late 1950s and ’60s.   After that he became involved in racing snowmobiles for many years, there again, excelling with his competitive personality into the mid ’70s.

      Later, he became involved in the restoration of his beloved Chevrolets.

      During the years, his ownership of cars included 35 Tri-Fives.   Within his lifetime, he would boast of owning more than 80 automobiles, most of which were classics autos. He was an avid Classic Chevy enthusiast and his Tri-Fives collection was one of the finest in the country.   He had acquaintances within the Classic Chevy Club throughout many states in the U.S. and was well known all over the country for the perfection of his Chevrolets.   Over the years, he had many articles printed in Chevy magazines about his cars.

      He could talk for hours about his Chevrolets and at any given car show, would be seen sitting behind his car waiting for questions from anyone who had an interest.   At one point, he had been asked “if he wrote the book on ’57 Chevrolets” …and, with his knowledge, could very well have done so.

      Ralph was a great fan of NASCAR and went many years to the Indy 500 and Daytona, along with his brother-in-law Don Spolar, who was his best friend, but also enjoyed a rivalry between Fords and Chevrolets.

      Wintering in Mesa, Ariz., for the past 12 years had become a love of his life.   He enjoyed it with a passion as he could take pride in the showing of his cars during the winter months.

      Ralph is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kay;   his son and daughter-inlaw, Ralph and Joanne Warnstrom;   daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Dan Rademacher;   grandchildren, Annie Warnstrom, Heather Silk and Chad Silk.   He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Gene Faroni and families;   brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Duane and Julie Spolar, and George and Charlotte Spolar and their families; and aunt, Betty Gneiting.

      Preceding him in death were his father, Knute;   his mother, June;   father-in-law and mother-in-law, George and Kay Spolar;   and special brother-in-law, Don Spolar.

      Ralph’s family will receive friends beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at 9 a.m., in St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

      Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Private entombment of ashes will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.   Memorials may be made to Easter Seals-Good Will/ Highlands Hospice, Our Lady of the Rockies or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

      “Dad,we will miss you so very much, but knowing that you’ll be right in your glory as you pass into ’57 Chevy Heaven is a comfort to us all.   Enjoy Don, will be waiting for you with his four letter F word (Ford).”

      Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits.

Published in the Montana Standard on November 29, 2009