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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ralph Burdick succumbed to injuries sustained one week earlier when he was pinned between two vehicles while on duty at a Labor Day rodeo event in Fort Totten.
Survivors
Deputy Sheriff Burdick was survived by his wife, 2 sons, two daughters, one granddaughter, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Burdick served with the Benson County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Minnewaukan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Burdick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Benson County Sheriff's Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Ralph is one of 15 officers lost to accidents in ND, 24.6% of the 61 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1954, 2 officers in ND were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1966, with 4.
In 1954, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1954, 73 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 70th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ralph was 55. Of the 14 lost to accidents in ND whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 54.3; the middle age was 45.
Ralph was 55. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Ralph was 55. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
September holds 20% of these deaths in ND; May holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 6.7%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Benson County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 24.6% of all 61 deaths in ND, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Benson County Sheriff's Department has 2 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Benson County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
