Ranald Luke McDonald, 48
Ranald Luke McDonald, 48, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2015, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
He was born on Aug. 21, 1966, in Ronan, the son of Thomas Ranald and Ann May (Christman) McDonald.
He was raised on the family ranch in Niarada and attended schools in Polson and graduated from Polson High School in 1984. He attended and graduated from Montana State University and continued at the University of Montana Law School where he received his Juris Doctor in Law degree.
Following law school, he worked for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribe and was their managing attorney for many years. He was married and to this union his daughter Ave' was born.
He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing and was also a competitive shooter. He was also able to enjoy a hunting trip to Africa. He was very close to his fraternity brothers from Delta Sigma Phi from MSU. He was a longtime member of the Montana Bar Association and Ducks Unlimited.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and was very proud of his daughter Ave's competitive freestyle skiing. He enjoyed fine foods and sharing with friends. He was a master fencer and had a very easygoing personality.
He was also a great-grandson of the Hudson Fur Trader Angus McDonald and his great-grandmother was a cousin of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe.
“May the work I have done speak for me.”
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents and an infant brother, Angus Patrick McDonald.
He is survived by his daughter, Ave’, of Columbia Falls; his sister, Lorrie Meeks and Tom of Dixon; his brother, Malcolm McDonald and Patty of Niarada; sisters, Gail Graves of Ronan, and Marsha Rubino and Vince of Elmo, and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.
As per Ranald's wishes, services will be private.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.