RALPH LEON HANGER, 68, a resident of Burlington, passed away at his home on Sunday March 21, 2004 surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on February 14, 1936 in Van Buren, Missouri, the son of Lendal L. and Sarah A. Morris Hanger. In 1944 the family moved to Washington, living in Whatcom County. Ralph attended school in Ferndale and also in Bellingham. As a young man he spent time working in the poultry business and racing cars, he was a participant in the first race held at Hannegan Racetrack in Bellingham in a red #31 sprint car. In 1953 he bought his prized Red Crestline Sunfire Ford convertible, and soon after met Barbara Anne Byers. They were married in Idaho in 1954. During the years that they were married they raised their five children together while living in Burlington.
During these years he had many occupations that all centered around driving the Big Rigs. In 1954 he worked for Glen Myers Logging, then for Goodfellows Inc., where he was part of the building of Interstate 5 near Lake Samish. He later moved on to become owner and operator of Burlington Taxi. For a number of years he drove cement truck for Cascade Ready Mix and then for Associated Sand & Gravel. His last and most enjoyable working years were spent driving the Alcan Hiway every week from Lynden to Anchorage for Lynden Transport Inc. Ralph was lovingly known by his family, friends and trucking buddies as ‘Rotten Ralph’.
In 1989 he was united in marriage to Linda Mae Ellis, and together they have one daughter, Jessica Lynn. During that time and continuing today, they started a food concession business. While traveling far distances and working long days and late nights with family and friends, they made a successful business that arose from Chuckwagon to Gyros, and also operating Mom’s Caf