Ronald William Wachsmuth, 80

Ronald William Wachsmuth, 80, passed away July 19, 2017, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula with his family by his side.

Ron was born May 24, 1937, to William and Anna Wachsmuth. He graduated from Flathead County High School and went on to attend the University of Montana where he earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry.

Ron’s entire career in the United States Forest Service was devoted to working in western Montana. Ron had stints working in the Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, Darby, West Yellowstone and Plains Ranger Stations and Districts, and the regional office of the Lolo National Forest in Missoula.

In 1967 Ron married Kathy Lee Rose and they had two sons, Mark and Matthew. They resided in Darby and then West Yellowstone until 1976 when they divorced. Ron moved to Plains that summer with the boys.

Ron always had a heart for service to his community. He worked as an EMT in Darby and West Yellowstone and served as a volunteer for the Darby Fire Department and the Darby Jaycees. He was very active in the Plains community as well. He volunteered as a baseball coach, umpire and chauffeur. He drove countless numbers of teams and kids many miles to baseball games and tournaments. Ron also served the community by working on the Plains City Council, county tax board, and as an election ballot courier. In his retirement he also volunteered for Plains Public Schools as a crossing guard. Whenever there was a need in town, Ron would be one of the first to help.

Some of Ron’s most enjoyable retirement times were those spent at The Circle, meeting with his friends for coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner. His sons will be forever grateful to his friends who shared all those times and meals with him and to Larri-Jo, and the folks at The Circle who treated him as though he was their grandfather as well.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dan, and brother Harold.

He is survived by his son Mark (Angella), and his grandchildren, Alivia and Michael, all of Nampa, Idaho; son Matthew (Serena), and his stepgrandchildren, Brent, Bridger and Gracie, all of Plains; niece Vicki (Bob) Blake of Kalispell; niece Debra (Greg) Kirkman of Sutton, Massachusetts; and niece Rhonda (Lyle) Newman of Columbia Falls.

A memorial service, followed by a reception, to celebrate his life is planned for noon Saturday, Aug. 26, at Church on the Move in Plains.