He was elected to the Minnesota State Senate for a four-year term in 2016, defeating his Democratic-Farmer-Labor opponent, Dan Volgamot, by more than 100 votes in one count. Relief lost its seat this fall.
Peggy Broker-Rilfe said her husband loves to serve the people of St. Cloud and “takes care of him every minute.”
“Jerry dedicated his life to the service and representing Senate District 14 was one of the highest honors he has ever received. Heard from a person at a parade or at a public event, or just met someone during that ‘Day on the Hill’ event, ”Broker-Rilfe said Friday.
“Jerry loved diving on issues, finding solutions and working together to solve problems and I have no doubt he would have continued to solve problems outside of the legislature.”
Prior to joining the Minnesota Legislature, Ralph was a Pte of the Marine Corps, who served in Vietnam, a lawyer and small businessman.
He was the lead author of a bilateral bill in March that provided emergency funding to combat Covid-19 in Minnesota.
Minnesota’s top Senate Republican calls Rilph “a dear friend and colleague by many.”
“For four years, he rolled up his sleeves and faced tough issues for our state. Senator Rilph will always be remembered as a dedicated public servant,” Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said in a statement Friday.
D.F.L. State Sen. Caroline Lane, who was also elected in 2016, recalled Rilph as the “least partisan” legislator, “full of courtesy and integrity.”
Rilph is survived by his wife, two children, four stepchildren and a grandson.
Leshan Banke of CNN contributed to this report.
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