Ralph Sorenson Jr.: Edmonds native was a boat builder, master craftsman, storyteller

Ralph Sorenson Jr.

Ralph Howard Sorenson Jr.

May 17, 1928 – April 27, 2020

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sails’ shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying , And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life , To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and sweet dream when the long trick’s over. ~ John Masefield

Ralph was the sixth child of Ralph and Borghild (Belle) Sorensen, joining Lillian, Roy, Annabelle, Robert, and June. He is survived by his sister, June Crump; ten nieces and nephews, Robin and Jim Gates, Paul Sorensen, Ann and Bud Baker, Gayle Crow Crawford, Terry and Ginny Crump, Bob and Trisha Crump, Eric and Karen Crump, David and Denise Crump, Heidi and Gary Duncan, and Gretchen and Brian Guillette; and many great nieces and nephews.

Ralph was born in Edmonds, and maintained his home there, graduating from Edmonds High School in 1946. He attended Everett Community College before being called to serve his country in the Korean War, where he was assigned to an artillery battery. Upon returning from the war he worked for a short time at the Quality Shingle Mill in Edmonds. He went on to become an apprentice boat builder at Howard Anderson Boat House, which later became Anderson Marine next to the Edmonds Ferry Terminal.

Ralph specialized in building commercial fishing boats. He started his own boat shop called Tidewater Boat Works where he built gillnetters, trollers, seiners, and did repairs on sailboats or anything that floated and was made out of wood. There is a picture of Ralph at the Edmonds Waterfront Park, adjacent to the Edmonds Ferry Dock, of him and his boat in one of the many pictures paying tribute to the pioneers who made Edmonds a great place to live. Ralph was also a successful commercial fisherman, fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska for over 50 years as well as other parts of Alaska and Washington.

Ralph was a master craftsman with wood and could always be found at his favorite work bench in the basement of his home in Edmonds working on a new project or repairing something for one of his many friends. One of his prize creations was a beautiful violin and case, which was recently played at his residence at Sunrise Assisted Living in Edmonds by an accomplished musician. Ralph enjoyed hunting and fishing, gardening, and doing nice things for others. A storyteller, he was always entertaining, recalling his adventures in Alaska, the ocean beaches, and all over the great Pacific Northwest. He loved his mornings at the Edmonds McDonald’s with his coffee group, which he missed so much after moving into assisted living at Sunrise of Edmonds.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise of Edmonds for their wonderful care of Ralph over the past three years. Ralph will be missed by all his family and friends as he has given us all such great and wonderful memories. Memorial donations are suggested to the Seattle Fisherman’s Memorial, www.seattlefishermensmemorial.org, or the charity of your choice.

  1. Thankyou for the article. The true pioneers of Edmonds are often overlooked. Ralph was a jewel, He could have added a lot to Edmonds history if someone would have asked him. There is more to Edmonds history than the Yost’s, Kingdom’s Brackett’s etc. What about all of the working men who helped build this city??

  2. The hard part of growing older is witnessing the passing of your Edmonds schoolmates and old friends ahead of you. Just over 20 years ago, Ralph put his arm around my shoulders as my husband’s ashes were scattered into the sea he loved. Follow your star to a safe harbor, Ralph.

  3. I was a young volunteer firefighter in Edmonds from 1966-69. I had the pleasure of working with Ralph on the fire department and visiting him in his shop. He was a true craftsman and took the time to explain the processes involved in making a commercial fishing boat and then show how to do it. He was always a gentleman and left a lasting impression on me. His passing is a loss not only to his family but also to Edmonds.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.

By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.