Ronald Louis Meyers, 82

Ronald Louis Meyers went to be with the Lord he faithfully served for nearly 60 years on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012.

He was born on Dec. 27, 1929, to Louis and Esther Meyers in Kalispell. He was the youngest of seven children. He was 82 years old.

Ron attended grade school at the Batavia School west of town, then attended Flathead County High School. After graduation he attended the Kalispell Business College for two years, while also serving in the National Guard before going to Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho to study to become a preacher. While there, he met the love of his life, Bertha Andrew. They married on June 21, 1952.

After their marriage, Ron taught school in Olney for two years before beginning his calling as a minister in the Nazarene denomination from 1955 to shortly before he passed away. He served mainly on the Rocky Mountain District (Montana and Wyoming) that he loved so much. He pastored in Libby, Glasgow, Butte, Whitefish (where he also worked with the schools as a substitute teacher), Sheridan, Wyo., Pablo, John Day, Ore., and Powell, Wyo. He then semi-retired and returned to Pablo, where he served as an associate pastor, before going to the Columbia Falls Church of the Nazarene at the age of 70 as their full-time pastor. After several years, he semi-retired again and moved to Kalispell, where he became an associate pastor at the Kalispell Church of the Nazarene. He served in this capacity until shortly before his death, visiting the seniors and those in the hospital until he was no longer able to do so. He was never happier than when he could be visiting those who needed encouragement or those who wanted to know the Lord he served. Ron also started a men's ministry and they met at Sykes’ several times a week.

Ron and Bertha had five children, Faith, Rod, Jim, Randy and Vicki. He was a good and loving father who instilled integrity in his children. He loved to play with them, sometimes joining them and the neighbor children in playing tag or hide and seek or a game of anti-i-over. He taught them by his example how to treat others and how to be generous and giving. He gave them a rich heritage and left huge shoes to fill.

Ron never met a person he didn't like and consider a friend. He would give his last dollar to help another in need and he often did so. He was compassionate and giving. He served the Lord with everything he had and lived a Christian life to the fullest. He had countless friends and he led many, many people to Christ, some of whom followed in his footsteps to become pastors. And as those friends well know, Ron had a huge sense of humor and he loved to tease and joke around. About the only time he was serious was when he was preaching or ministering to someone.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Esther Meyers and his brother, Virgil Meyers. He was also preceded in death by his half brothers and sisters, Sally (Selma) Helseth Morton, Maxine Helseth Johnson, Carter Helseth, Edwin Helseth and Ernest Helseth, and their spouses; and by his son-in-law, Jon Adams.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Bertha Meyers; his children, their spouses and families, Faith Meyers Adams and her sons, Chris Adams and Todd and Cassie (Beauregard) Adams and their children, Chance, Isaac, Neehl and Dylan, Rodney and Lynnette (Matthews) Meyers, Cody and Dorothy Meyers, Adam and Sammi Jo Meyers, and Rachel Meyers, Jim and Lorraine (Coxson) Meyers, Randy and Tonya (Johnson) Meyers and children, BreAnn Meyers, Brenton Meyers, Brauhn Roberts and Seth Johnson, Vicki and husband Paul Funk, and children Shelby Hammer and Conner Hammer, Jordain O’Neill, Rachael O’Neill and Cody O’Neill.

His memorial service, a celebration of a life well lived, will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Kalispell Church of the Nazarene on Whitefish Stage Road. A viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

For those who would like to give a memorial, they can be made out to the Nazarene Missions and sent to Church of the Nazarene, 1295 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell, MT 59901 or Orphan's Lifeline International, P.O. Box 1100, Kalispell, MT 59903.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.