Ron Kimmel

On April 11, a blustery Tuesday evening, Ronald Evin Kimmel lost his battle with cancer.

Born Feb. 3, 1934, in Eldorado, Ohio he was the second son of Omer Evin Kimmel and Mary Luella Heath. At approximately six months of age, his parents moved the small family to Ronan, where they continued to grow their family to five boys.

The Kimmel boys were notoriously known throughout Ronan for their lively antics and their stories will be remembered for generations. After graduating from Ronan High School, class of ‘52, Ron received an athletic scholarship to Western Montana College in Dillon where he met and married the love of his life and fellow student Maxine Robison on Dec. 27, 1953, in Anaconda.

After graduating from Western they accepted their first teaching jobs in St. Ignatius in 1954. Ron taught during the school year and worked in lumber mills or forestry in the summers. His teaching career included several years in St. Ignatius, Ronan, Round Butte and Potomac. He eventually became the Ronan elementary principal and received his BA and MA of Education.

Over the years they added four children to their union, Evin Ray in 1955, Kathryn Kay in 1958, Linda Lee in 1959 and Shirley Ann in 1966. In 1972 they bought their home on Main St. in Ronan where he lived, raised his family and eventually passed away.

Ronald enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren in their sports endeavors, and working in his shop and yard. His outgoing personality, big smile, and giving heart will be missed by all who knew and cared for him.

Ronald is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Heath, Donald, Gale and Dale, in-laws Rev. Elmer and Clara Robison, brother-in-law Paul Robison, son Evin Kimmel, daughter-in-law Juiling, and grandchildren Jennifer Kimmel, Marshall Pablo and Terje Pablo.

Ron is survived by his wife, Maxine; three daughters, Kathy Kimmel, Linda Haydon and Shirley

Pablo; and 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

His viewing was Friday, April 14, at Fosters Funeral Home in St. Ignatius and a celebration of life was held Saturday, April 15, at the United Methodist Church on Post Creek Hill.