He passed away peacefully at the Shuswap Lake Hospital in Salmon Arm, B. C. on  April 6, 2025 at the age of 90.  

 

 After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He served in Korea as a helicopter mechanic. He then went to work at Boeing in Seattle, WA.  One weekend he visited his cousin, where he met Karen, his wife of 66 years. After they were married, he attended Edison Technical School in Seattle, WA. to obtain his license to work on small airplanes and helicopters. He went to work at the Olympia Airport in Olympia, WA.  While living in Olympia, a daughter, Rella and a son, Dana joined the family. 

 

Karen’s family moved to Canada.  They were drawn by the beauty of the Shuswap.  In 1972, Ron, Karen and children also moved to the Shuswap.  They lived in Eagle Bay, B.C. for 32 years. Ron worked at the Adams Lake Sawmill until retiring in 1999.  As Ron’s health issues became more of a problem, they moved into Salmon Arm, B. C. 

 

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Laurel, infant brother Theodore, sister, Doris Harris, brothers Donald, and Wallace. He is survived by sister Loretta (Lawrence) Bales of Kennewick, WA. and sister Ruth (Jim) Hopkins of Nampa, ID,  his wife, Karen of Salmon Arm, son Dana of Salmon Arm, daughter Rella (Paul) Niemela, of Blind Bay, B. C., granddaughter Mandy (Mike Lynn) Niemela and 2 sons, Lennox and Atlas of Tobiano, B.C., granddaughter Nicole Niemela and son Braxton of Kamloops, B.C..

 

Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.