Ronnie Pack, 79

Ronnie Pack, 79, died peacefully on May 19, 2012, at his home in Kalispell with his wife and daughters at his side.

Ronnie was born Nov. 26, 1932, in Raleigh, N.D., to Samy and Marjory Pack. He lived in several states in the northwest while growing up and graduated in 1950 from Wheatland High School in Wyoming.

Ronnie married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Cooper, in 1952. After the birth of their first daughter they moved to Kalispell, sight unseen, in 1953, where they raised their family and built a business. Within the next three years they had two more daughters.

Ronnie first worked for the Mills Lumber Company on a green chain. After one year he started his own business, Pack & Company, a construction company that specialized in underground utilities, asphalt paving and concrete work. He sold the company in 1986 after 32 years, but continued with other ventures in real estate. Throughout his life he loved to fly his single-engine bush plane and ride motorcycles.

He was respected for his integrity and honesty in his business and personal life. Ronnie served the Lord by teaching Sunday school and as an Elder at the Central Christian Church in Kalispell for many years.

Ronnie loved traveling and throughout retirement he and Margaret traveled extensively. One of their favorite trips was riding a motorcycle through the Alps in Northern Europe.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret; his daughters Deborah Pack-Patton and her husband Bruce, of Portland, Ore.; Holly Pepe and her husband Ralph, of Boise, Idaho; and Vonnie Gardner and her husband Brian, of Kalispell; his grandchildren Chad Patton, Lindsy Pepe Baird, Stacey Gardner Sundt, Eric Gardner and Taylor Gardner; and his great-grandchildren Coleman and Caden Baird and Walter Gardner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samy and Marjory Pack, and his brother, Don.

He is loved and will be greatly missed by his family, but has left us all with wonderful memories of a life well lived.

A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Christian Center, 255 Summit Ridge Drive in Kalispell. Memorial contributions are welcome for the Parkinson Foundation, APDA, Montana Deaconess Medical Center, 1101 26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405 or Home Options Hospice, 275 Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Kalispell, MT 59901.