Ronald G. Bond, 86

Ron Bond died on Saturday surrounded by his family. His mind was as sharp as ever, but over the past few months his body betrayed him.

If you’re reading this, you knew what Ron was about. Nobody loved Columbia Falls more than Ron. He loved his friends and neighbors, the Cats and Kats, the unrivaled beauty of the Flathead Valley and Glacier Park, the surrounding lakes, and the hiking trails that he and Mary traversed over their 38 years of marriage.

You knew Ron as a teacher, as a musician, as an athlete, as a community volunteer, and mostly, as a friend. You no doubt laughed with him.

What you may not know about Ron is that he was born in Butte and raised in Walkerville, graduated from Butte High, earned a music degree from Rocky Mountain College, was a starting college pitcher and was enshrined into the Rocky Mountain College Baseball Hall of Fame, taught music at CFHS and West Glacier for decades, established and directed the Columbia Falls Community Choir for 40 years, and coached numerous baseball teams, including the Glacier Twins.

Above all, Ron loved his family, and we loved him back.

We hope you will join us in celebrating the remarkable life of our dad, husband, grandpa, brother and uncle. Bring your stories and, as Ron was prone to do, embellish them for effect.

The celebration will begin at 2 p.m. at St. Richards Catholic Church on Saturday, June 3.