Ronald “Ron” Eugene MacDougall
On the morning of August 31st, 2019, Ron passed away at 1:45 AM. Ron was surrounded by his loving wife and all 3 of his children, his courageous battle with severe congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and COPD was finally over.
Ron MacDougall was born at St. Mary’s hospital in Walla Walla, Washington on February 25th, 1938. He was the first and only son of Carma and Jack Harsch. Ron’s parents divorced when Ron was just 3 years old and soon after his father died of heart complications. Carma remarried to Joe MacDougall, who eventually adopted and raised Ron in Weston, and Pilot Rock, Oregon. Ron was a graduate of Pilot Rock High School in 1955. Ron never knew his birth father’s side of the family but later in life he learned of his half sister Beverly Cook of Hesperia, California. Carma and Joe MacDougall gave birth to a daughter Sandra Jo and she and Ron grew up together. At the age of 28 Ron lost his father Joe in an industrial accident and he lost his mother when he was just 51, to emphysema.
Ron MacDougall was loved by many. At times he was larger than life, especially his hearty laugh! He stood 6’1′ and 205 pounds and lived a John Wayne life. Ron loved to entertain and show everyone a good time. He was a chef, a host, a joke teller, loved to play cribbage and pinochle, and just like John Wayne, he liked to drink, smoke, and “tell it like it is.” If you wanted a straight answer, you asked Ron. Ron quit smoking approximately 30 years ago and had recently quit drinking 9 months ago, of which he was very proud of. The last 20 years of Ron’s life were some of the hardest. Due to his health, he had carotid surgery on both sides of his neck, groin, legs, and in 2003 he survived an open heart, 4 way bypass of which he was 90% blocked.
Ron joined the Air Force in 1956 and was a Radio Operator until 1960. He later met and married Barbara (Berry) MacDougall of Cove, Oregon on April 8th 1961. The two were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Pendleton, Oregon. Ron began studying to be a CPA and at 28 years old he achieved that goal without a 4 year degree! Ron was a full partner in a CPA firm at the age of 31, he graduated from Kinman Business University, he attended Colombia and Stanford University, and graduated from the University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School. Friends and family would describe Ron as driven, intelligent and hard working, which is why at 38 years old he was Vice President for Seattle First National Bank; the 20th largest bank in the United States. Ron worked for Sea First Bank for 18 years and then another 8 years for US Bank, retiring at the age of 56.
Ron and Barb had 3 children, Ronda Jean MacDougall, Scott Martin MacDougall and Kimberly Jo MacDougall. The family lived and raised their children in Bellevue Washington. Ron and Barb chose to move to Yelm Washington after retirement, and began 7 years of “snow birding”. They loved to travel, they visited St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, Oklahoma City, Nashville, New Orleans, all Mexicos, Arizona, and many trips to Hawaii. Eventually they moved from Yelm to Helena, Montana and they both worked 8 years for the school district, Ron was a bus driver and Barbara was an aide, this helped to fill some of their spare time. They met a lot of friends there and they really enjoyed the kids.
Ron lived and loved sports. In his high school years he was basketball captain and forward for his team, he also played football for the Shrine Team. His position was offensive/defensive end and when he was in the United States Air Force in Germany, he played line backer. So it’s no surprise that Ron had season tickets to the Seattle Supersonics and the Seattle Seahawks, and he and his entire family will be fans forever! Ron was a type A personality who believed in fairness, honesty without politics, and always said he “wanted the ability to look himself in the mirror while shaving.” Ron was a self proclaimed “staunch republican” and proud of it! His hobbies included hunting and fishing, and he loved his dogs. His chocolate lab “Mac”, Doberman “Ruby”, black lab “Moses”, Doberman “Rocky”, black lab “Lady”, and currently Chesapeake bay “Lady”. Ron and his son Scott both shot a 6 point bull elk on the same trip together! Ron loved his yearly hunting trips with his son and his best friend and cousin Dick Wallace. Ron was able to go fishing in Seattle with Scott and his grandson Joe on several occasions. Ron believed that you stuck up for what you believed in even if you were the only one, and you always threw the first punch. If you wanted an opinion, you got it whether you asked for it or not – free of charge. Ron was nothing short of amazing and everyone who knew him loved him.
Ron was preceded in death by Jack Harsch (father), Joe MacDougall (adoptive father), Carma MacDougall (mother), Violet Courtney (grandmother), Carol and Harry Zier (Ron’s aunt, twin sister to his mother Carma), Marge Hall (aunt), Dick Wallace (cousin), Hazel and Robert Reid (uncle), Bev and Larry Smith (cousin), David Reppe (brother in-law), Gary Cook (nephew). Ron is survived by: Barbara Jean MacDougall (wife), Beverly and James Cook (sister, Harsch), Sandra Jo “Sis” Reppe (MacDougall), Sherry and Bruce Ziegman (cousin), Ron and Pat Kuest (cousin). Children Ronda Jean “RJ” (Mike) Gilleran, Scott Martin (Katherine) MacDougall, Kimberly Jo (Todd) Bibby. Grandsons’ Joseph William MacDougall (Brittany), Jeremiah Lee Parish, Todd Bibby Jr., Tyler MacDougall Bibby. Great grandchildren Kane Branden MacDougall, Owen Lee MacDougall, Emery Rochelle MacDougall. Nephews Douglas William Reppe (Daronna), Darin Arthur Reppe (Yvonne) and David Cook.
Ron and Barbara were married for 58 years and as Ron would say, “Here’s one more for the Gipper!”
Ron’s celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral home, 3750 N. Montana Ave in Helena, with a reception following in the social hall of the funeral home. The family would like to thank Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, Dr. Robert LaClair, Dr. William Hull, Dr. Diane Nowak, Hospice of St. Peters, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, St. Patrick’s hospital in Missoula, St. Peters hospital in Helena, Home Instead, and Gail, his personal aide. The family would like flowers to be sent to Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home and any donations in Ron’s name to be sent to the Lewis and Clark County Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Ron.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday September 28, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Saturday September 28, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Social Hall
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday September 28, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Saturday September 28, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Social Hall
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Mandi Andersch says
Barbara and family I am so sorry for your loss. Ron made me smile and laugh every time I saw him. He will be truly missed. Barbara if you need anything I am one street over.
Russell R. says
I would like to say that Ron had a way …
Starvation Army bell ringer here… I never got to know Ron, rather I learned to “anticipate” him. Over the past several years this guy has delivered the off-color politically incorrect joke, the warm smile and friendly words of encouragement. That ol’ codger made me LAUGH OUT LOUD ! Mere recollections still bring a chuckle. I will put to good use such memories of Ron to maintain the warm smile at the red kettle again this season. God willing…
Barbara and family; a small number of folks a guy gets to know, if by first name only, out of the thousands of faces he will greet over the Christmas season. Ron was always one of those I looked forward to seeing again. Year after year I rely on the occasional encounter with one of my V.I.P.’s. You see, regardless what may or may not drop into the kettle, it is only a side benefit of what keeps bringing me back to my short “tour of duty”. Some folks light burns brighter than the others. Ron had it, seemed willing to share it, and I got some! There will always be folks that need some… I am happy to have made his acquaintance!
I too, will be missing him this season, and will pause often for the recollection of Ron and hopefully share some of his light. Ron’s not gone, he has merely moved back home.
SMILE, and Ron smiles with you family MacDougall! When you’re out getting groceries, do stop by an’ say howdy to the goofy bell ringer this season, and just TRY and deliver the joke like he could! God Blesses all of us!