Ralph Henry Nilsen died peacefully surrounded by his family in Edmonds, WA on July 20, 2012. Ralph was born in Seattle on March 3, 1927 to Nicolai and Lydia Nilsen. He attended West Seattle High School. After serving in the Pacific in the Navy during WWII, Ralph began a long career as a commercial fisherman; his first jobs working as a dory man on the codfish schooners Wawona and the C.A. Thayer. Ralph married his bride of 62 years, Peggy Burghardt in 1950 and lived in West Seattle until moving to Edmonds in 1988. In 1962, he had his first salmon seiner built, the F/V Red Fox, and fished the waters of Kodiak Island for salmon during the summer months. During the winter, Ralph worked as a Teamster in the Seattle area. After retiring from fishing in 1974, Ralph continued to work as a Teamster until retirement. He loved sport fishing for salmon on the Puget Sound. Ralph is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters Kate North (Ed) and Judy Burke (Brian); son Jim Nilsen (Magrit); and sister Lillian Schaefer. In addition, 5 grandchildren: Heidi Bergman (Patrick), Michael and Sam North, Hunter and Caroline Burke; and 2 great grandchildren, Chase and Addison Bergman.