Ronald Dean Mohn, 62
"Ron Mohn's gone fishing!" He left this world on March 10, 2009, "to go to that secret fishing hole where the fishing is always great and the stories are tall." He was an author, an avid fisherman, entrepreneur, a consummate storyteller, and best friend to all who knew him.
Ron was born in Tucson, Ariz., to Pearl and Emery Mohn. They then moved to the Flathead Valley where he attended schools and graduated from Flathead High School. His fondest memory growing up in the Flathead Valley was of the two "Huck Finn" summers he spent as a caretaker on Shelter Island on Flathead Lake.
After joining the Navy he served as a decorated corpsman in Vietnam. Later he graduated from Duke University in the second class of physician's assistants, in 1973.
Ron worked as an orthopedic physician's assistant in Panama City, Fla., Corvallis, Ore., and on the Alaskan Pipeline. He was instrumental in developing licensure for physician's assistants to practice in the state of Montana.
On coming back to Montana he met and reeled in the best catch of his life, his wife of 29 years, Louann. Meanwhile, he attended Flathead Valley Community College in business and subsequently opened up Consignment Corral. For the last 17 years he developed and operated the second love of his life, Mountain Lake Fisheries. His company harvested Lake Superior Whitefish fillets and produced award-winning Montana Golden Whitefish Caviar.
He is survived by his wife, Louann; his longtime friends, Gale and Rob Noteboom, Chuck and Jeanie Hissong, Charlie and Ruth Davis, and Carol Senner; his Mountain Lakes Fisheries family; and his TOPS family. He also leaves behind his constant companion, Mike the cat; and numerous colleagues, friends and family members.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. He has been cremated and his ashes will be scattered later.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that food donations be made to the Veterans Food Bank at 1527 Hwy. 35 E., Kalispell, MT 59901.