Ralph Westley Bloom

Ralph Westley Bloom went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 25, 2013. He and his beloved, Carol Rae, are dancing with the angels in paradise. Ralph was born on June 18, 1939 in Sterling, Colorado to Edwin and Inez Bloom. When he was three years old, the family moved to Kootenai. He attended Kootenai Grade School and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1957. On May 29, 1958, he married the love of his life, Carol Rae Marley. He worked for Darigold Farms for 16 years prior to owning Harold’s Foods for over 20 years before retiring in 2005. While in business, Ralph generously supported many civic organizations including the local food bank, Toys for Tots, youth sports teams and too many others to mention. He is fondly remembered for his generous bidding at the 4-H livestock auctions at the annual Bonner County Fair. Over the years, Ralph would join into friendly bidding wars over the 4-H livestock with Yoke’s Pac’n Save, just to benefit the 4-H kids. Ralph is survived by daughters Coulette (Dennis) Kuespert and Mollie (Mike Tenney) Bloom; mother-in-law Lily Marley; grandchildren Denny Kuespert, Andrew (Rebecca) Kuespert, Nicholas (Megan) Kuespert, and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Janice Wilson, brother Richard “Chic” (Maridean) Bloom, sister Sandra (Keith) Ellingsen, brother Terry (Carmen) Bloom, sister Tamara “Tami” Bloom, sisters-in-law Pat Bloom and Bonnie Bloom, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol Marley Bloom; sister Gloriane “Ann” Hamann; brothers Edwin Bloom Jr., and Colin Bloom; brother-in-law Jim Wilson; and father-in-law Harold Marley. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am Friday, March 29, 2013 in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel. Interment will take place in Pinecrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kootenai Community Church, 204 E. Central Avenue, Kootenai, ID 83840.