Joseph Ridge

Joseph Patrick Ridge, 90, of Bothell, WA, passed away May 3, 2026. He was born January 29,1936 on the family farm in Red Lake Falls, MN. Joe was the only son of Josephine Linnertz and Patrick Ridge. He had four sisters, Ann, Ag, Rose, and Mary Jo. Eventually, the Ridge family moved and settled in Anaconda, MT.

In Anaconda, Joe attended school and at age fourteen worked for a local store delivering groceries. When Joe turned eighteen, he began a career on the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway on the section gang, and later became a switchman.

While at a dance in Butte, MT, Joe met Dolores Morris, the love of his life and best friend. They married in February 1955 and started their family in Anaconda. They had three children: Joe, John and Colleen. In 1964 Joe and Dolores moved their family to Seattle, WA in the Shoreline area in pursuit of better opportunities.

Shortly after the move to Seattle, Joe successfully pursued computer programing training, while working full time at night on the Burlington Northern Railroad. He never used his computer programming training believing he was not suited for an office job. Joe had several other jobs but was hired as a warehouseman for the Port of Seattle. He was promoted to foreman and managed several of the Port’s largest warehouses. He remained at the Port of Seattle for many years enjoying a long and successful career until his retirement.

Joe and Dolores loved their family and enjoyed happy years in Shoreline, where their children grew and eventually got married and had their own children.

It was during their retirement years that Joe and Dolores were able to immerse themselves in being grandparents. It was a role they both embraced with great joy and dedication. They never wavered on attending athletic games, graduations, weddings, and other important milestones, even traveling frequently to grandchildren on the east coast. Their strong family values were at the core of all of what they did. Their grandchildren were able to develop strong and lifelong relationships with both.

After Dolores passed away, Joe continued to nurture those relationships still attending basketball games, graduations and weddings and traveling to the East Coast frequently.

Joe was able to get to know, and at least, meet all four of his great-grandchildren as well.

Joe had a big heart, strong faith and convictions, and great sense of community. He stayed active in parish life and with St. Vincent de Paul as a volunteer.

Joe is survived by his sons, Joe (Julia), John (Leslie) and daughter Colleen (Collin), eight grandchildren, Erinn (Will), Sean, Ashely (Jack), Nathan (Maura), Robert (Danielle), Kyle (Liz), Andrew (Taylor) and Mollie (Kelly). He is also survived by four great grandchildren, Reuben, Norah, Clare and Finn.