SALT LAKE CITY — Ralph "Al" K. Allen, 83, died Jan. 17, in his sleep after a short illness. Allen was born April 23, 1925, in Austin, Minn., to Ernest and Jessie Allen. He was raised in Minnesota until age 17, when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served his country as a corpsman in the Pacific Theater of World War II. During an assignment at the University of Utah Medical Center, he met Ruby Geis. They were married April 24, 1946, in Salt Lake City. Allen was a gifted craftsman, master electrician, and brilliant problem solver. He worked for many years at Interstate Brick and became the superintendent. After retiring, he took the reins of his father-in-law’s business, Geis Electric. He dedicated a good portion of his life to teaching his nine children how to figure things out. In the process, they all figured out life. He found great joy in his grandchildren, instilled in his family a desire to pursue excellence, and had a sense of humor. He is survived by his wife, Ruby; children, Guy (Bing), Sandy, Ernie (Bobbie), Annette (Rick) Williams, Brian (Valene), Barry, (LaDonna), John; son-in-law, Keven DeBoard; daughter-in-law, Debbie, Rosemount, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and brother Guy Allen. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Ann Catholic Church. Committal was in Elysian Burial Gardens, Salt Lake City.
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