Ronald E. Schelske, age 86 of Helena

Ronald Ervin Schelske went to be with his creator.

Born January 12, 1937 to Erwin and Elsie Schelske in Goldwin, North Dakota at the family farm. At the age of 3 the family moved to Hardin Montana due to the dry 1930’s of North Dakota. I grew up on the family farm near Hardin with no indoor plumbing or running water, no electricity until the mid-1940’s. Credit my parents for providing me with a strong work ethic, learning about livestock and agriculture.

I attended Hardin Schools graduating from High School in 1955. During High School days, I was involved in Band, Vocational Agriculture, FFA, church youth programs, music, learned to play the guitar at an early age. After graduation, I enlisted in the Air Force, serving 4 years, -16 months in England with the 582^nd Air Supply Squadron, Molesworth, Alconbury, and with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) in New Jersey being discharged in 1959.

After an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force, I came back to Hardin, working in a case implement dealership and machine shop, during that time I met Donna Miller of Wilsall, Montana, and we married in 1960. Brenda Martin joined the family in 1960 and to us was born a son, Rick Schelske in 1961.

In 1961 I started my career in the wholesale-retail lumber business, serving 25 years. Starting with Aldrich Lumber Co. out of Billings in a line yard, Hardin Lumber, later joining Saunders Lumber Co. of Hardin, serving a year in Sheridan Wyoming, a total of 6 years with Saunders Lumber. Due to Agricultural Economics in Eastern Montana, closing of the Holly Sugar Factory in Hardin, Interstate highway system being built around the community, the family and I started searching out Western Montana for opportunity, and after about 2 years an opportunity opened up In Helena and I went to work for Linder-Kind Lumber Company. In 1976, I bought the business and operated until 1984. Due to the economics of the 1980’s, construction all but came to a halt in the Western U.S. and Helena liquidated inventory and sold the property.

I went to work for the Helena School System at Helena VO-TEC (Helena College) in the maintenance department for 23 years, retiring in 2012. I was a member of the Assembly of God church active in the music program, enjoyed Country Gospel and Southern Gospel music. I enjoyed playing my pedal steel guitar and Bass guitar. I enjoyed wood working in my shop, collecting farm toys, snowmobiling Yellowstone Park and in the mountains of western Montana with family and friends. Motorcycling, touring Western U.S. and Canada, classic cars, model railroading, camping Montana, fishing the Big Horn and Missouri Rivers of Montana and North Dakota, mountain streams of Montana. I spent some 20 plus years fishing the lakes of Saskatchewan with my Dad each spring. I enjoyed hunting Eastern and Western Montana, big game and anything that could fly.

I was preceded in death by my mother Elsie, father Ervin and brother Larry. I am survived by my wife, Donna of 63 years a daughter, Brenda (Rock) Mooney of Shephard Montana and son, Rick (Mischelle) Schelske of Helena. Two grandchildren, seven great grandchildren. A niece Shelly Schelske-Santos (Israel) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. A sister Darlene Schelske-Wolleat (Paul) of St. Paul, Minnesota. In laws Jim and Betty Reynolds of Philipsburg, Montana, Bill and Joyce Clausen of Helena, Gene and Judy Parker of Perrysville, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday March 23^rd at Helena First, 2210 Dodge Ave.  A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall of the church.  Burial with Military Honors will follow the reception at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.  Any memorials go to Assembly of God church College Ministries.

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Thursday March 23, 2023

Helena First

2210 Dodge Ave.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Reception

Following the service in the social hall of the church

Thursday March 23, 2023

Helena First

2210 Dodge Ave.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Burial with Military Honors

Thursday March 23, 2023

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

3550 Heroes Rd.

Helena, Montana 59636

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