Ralph Newlin was my friend and one of the best insurance agents I have ever known.
Suddenly, he was gone. He will be missed by so many people. There will be an empty chair at countless board meetings, community organizations and churches because Ralph was always willing to step up and help.
He lived a life rooted in faith, friendship and service. Ralph and his wife, Nancy, were my friends and two of my greatest encouragers.
My business was in their building in Colusa for 14 years.
When I moved back to North Dakota, I continued writing my column. Whenever I wrote something Ralph enjoyed, I could count on receiving a text message from him. It was never long, but it always encouraged me to keep writing.
Ralph left a legacy of kindness that touched more lives than he probably ever realized. He showed up, he cared and he encouraged others without expecting anything in return.
We could all learn something from the way Ralph lived.