Ronald Killian

Ronald (Ron) Part Killian, 81, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2014 in Shelley Idaho surrounded by his family.  Ron’s health had been diminishing in the last year.  He plowed 28 gardens last year and only 2 this past spring.

Ron was the first son born, January 24, 1933 in Rigby Idaho, to Thomas Ronald   Killian and Edna Mae Ball Killian.  Nine years later Jack was born, 4 years later Alan, and 4 years later his sister Suzanne was born. As a young boy he was his father’s shadow.  He and his dad were real close, he was with him nearly all the time, farming, fishing, and chicken hunting. He grew up working side by side with his father shoveling ditches and farming.

He attended school in Rigby. When he was a  Junior in high school he started dating Marjorie Mae Scholes who was a freshman.  They were married on April 2, 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple just before Marj. graduated. She has been the love of his life and his best friend.  They were married for 62 years.

When Ron was 20 he and his brother-in-law David had been called up to serve in the Army.  When they were getting ready to load the bus the commanding officer noticed that Marjorie was holding their first son R.Kay (Ron), he said, “you got a baby, don’t get on that bus”.  So instead he joined the Army Reserve 449

th

and served from 1951 – 1957.

Ron farmed with his father when they were first married.  He farmed in Moses Lake, Washington where their 2

nd

son Dean was born. While working at the Sugar Factory in Rigby their 3

rd

son Mark was born.  Later he went to work for Wirkus Dairy in Ammon where the final 4 children, Ronda, Ruth, Darren and Val, were born.  In 1969 he moved his family to Shelley when he got a job working at Cannon’s Dairy. He left Cannon’s to work for Meadow Gold Dairy in Pocatello.  He loaded trucks for deliveries when he first started and later picked up his own delivery route.  He won many contest while working there.  His favorite was a trip to Yellowstone for him and his wife. After Meadow Gold he was hired at Eddy’s Bread delivering baked goods from Idaho Falls to Teton. When the Teton Dam broke he was in Ashton, he had to spend the night there.  For the next few days he delivered bread through the whole valley for those that needed it.  He had to take the back roads through Driggs and Palisades to get through. He has had many jobs in his life and has always been a hard worker.

On May 10, 2014 he received the Silver Beaver Award.  He and Marjorie have served most their lives in the scouting program.  Ron was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served faithfully.  His favorite calling was serving in the nursery where all the children called him grandpa.  If you found him in the hall at church you would be rewarded with a piece of chocolate which he always had in his pockets.

Ron and Marj have been blessed by having the best neighbors.  He was always willing to help when asked, he loved serving others. He was a kind and gentle man, loved by all his children and grandchildren.   He will be missed greatly by all those who know and love him.

Ron is survived by his wife (Marjorie) and seven children, Ron (Anna), Idaho Falls, Dean (Eni) Shelley, Mark (Cindy) Ammon, Ronda Ramirez (Manuel) Idaho Falls, Ruth Williams (Michael) Rexburg, Darren (Ruthan) Firth, Val (Kendra) Shelley.  He has 22 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.  He is survived by his sister Suzanne Burns of Idaho Falls.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother Jack and his brother Alan.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Woodville Church (1555 N. 700 E.). The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 to 8:30 pm at Nalder Funeral Home (110 W Oak) in Shelley and Saturday 9:30 – 10:40 am at the Woodville Church. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Cemetery in Rigby with military Rites by the David B. Bleak Post #93 of Shelley assisted by the Idaho Honor Guard.