The community sadly lost a pillar on Thursday, January 18, 2024, when Ron William Lukenbill, passed away peacefully at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by his devoted wife and close friends.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Bill & Mary Ann Lukenbill, and his brother, John “Jackie” Allen Lukenbill. He is survived by his wife, Tatiana (Tanya) Lukenbill, daughters Sarah Lukenbill and Monica Loar (John)and grandchildren Connor and Mackenzie Loar, brother Jim Lukenbill (Karen) and nephews Joel and Jacob Lukenbill, brother-in-law Oleksiy Tykhonov (Olena) and niece Kateryna Cressall (Rick), as well as numerous cousins and family members near and far.
His contributions to the lives of many include his accomplishments as an educator, education administrator, citizen diplomat, supporter for causes based on education, various cultures & ethnicities, and for the greater good of all mankind. Ron was an outstanding seeker of that elusive “World Peace” and devoted over 3 decades of his time and energy to welcoming thousands of individuals from dozens of nations and cultures, making them feel at home in Montana.
Ron was born in Williston, North Dakota, and when he was a young boy, his family moved to Sacramento, California. There, Ron was surrounded by his loving family and extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Ron and his brothers, along with cousins, rode horses and got into plenty of mischief. He grew up in a family where his strong work ethic was developed, and the love of family and friends was extremely important to him. Ron graduated from El Camino High School in 1958 then attended San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA. He received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts, and then went to San Francisco State to get his 5th Year Teaching Certificate. He was an artist, a creator, and a stoneware potter. While in Art School, he met Nancy Brown, they married and became parents to Monica and Sarah. The young family moved from San Francisco to Santa Rosa, CA where Ron taught elementary school in Sebastopol.
In 1970, the family moved to Tennessee where Ron studied Special Education at George Peabody School of Education – an affiliate of Vanderbilt University. He taught at the same School. While living in Tennessee, Ron appreciated the Great Smokey Mountains, Bluegrass festivals with his family, neighbors, and friends as well as many parks and lakes in the state. There were also fun nights listening to music at the Grand Ole Opry or even catching a live show at the Ryman Auditorium.
1976 led Ron and family to Helena, where he proudly called home ever since.
In Montana, Ron found his early professional calling managing programs for individuals with learning and developmental disabilities. For over 35 years he worked at the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) in National Diffusion Network Program, identifying and spreading to Montana schools’ innovative education programs; in Educational Technology Program and as Title One specialist. He retired in 2010.
Ron and Tatiana were married in a small ceremony in Helena, May 1993, then had a traditional service at the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Lviv, Ukraine, July 1994. As everyone witnessed, they shared an immense amount of mutual love, admiration, and respect for one another during their 31 years of marriage. Their devotion to each other, equal appreciation for meaningful conversations, art, music, travels, adventures and fun, and their loving support and encouragement to thousands of individuals worldwide, was the foundation to their loving relationship.
In 1993, they set up a nonprofit student exchange program, called International Crossroads Group, bringing high school, college and university students from numerous countries for education in the USA. Ron devoted 35 years of his life to WorldMontana a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting global understanding by facilitating International Visitor Leadership Program, and Open World Program aimed at establishing mutually beneficial relationship between future leaders of other nations. He served as WorldMontana Vice President and President of Board of Directors. For years, he would continue friendship with the people he had met during these visits.
Ron’s love for his community and classical music grew to include 6 years of serving on the Helena Symphony Board of Directors. Ron jokingly called his weekly coffee meetings with friends and former colleagues “Coffee Cantata”. His favorite time on Saturday mornings was attending the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. Ron carried deep love and appreciation for the Native American People, their rich history and traditions that make Montana the state it is.
Always drawn to learning, Ron spent many hours researching his family ancestry, locating beautiful stories of life and family history. He enjoyed sharing this knowledge with people of all ages.
When it came to relaxing, Ron and Tatiana would pack sandwiches, snacks and chairs and head out to their sweet spot at Lorelei Picnic on Canyon Ferry Lake or stroll around Spring Meadow Lake. They spent many vacations walking along the beaches, soaking up the sun with friends in Mexico at their favorite Cabo Azul Resort. Their friends always enjoyed stories about their adventures during the trips to Ukraine, Russia, Hong Kong, Macao, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Hungary, England, Denmark. They spent time with friends in San Diego, Palm Springs, New Orleans, among other places. Ron found the rivers and lake banks calming and meditative, either on land or by drift boat; fishing was a lifelong passion. By himself, with friends or family; Ron LOVED to fish.
As we say goodbye to our dear sweet Husband, Brother, Father, Grandfather, Cousin, Friend, and Mentor, let us ALWAYS continue to share the ways that Ron touched our lives – as there will be MANY. Rest now, our Santa Claus of a dad, you brought great joy and light into the room and into our hearts. THANK YOU for being a great seeker of that elusive “World Peace”, may you Rest in Peace now. We love you.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave., Helena, Montana 50601 on Saturday April 20, 2024 11am, with a reception to follow at the funeral home. The service will be livestreamed on Ron’s obituary page on the funeral home website, www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Those in attendance are encouraged to share a story about Ron at the reception, following memorial service. In Lieu of flowers please send donations in honor of Ron Lukenbill to: WorldMontana, 1601 N. Benton Ave. Helena, MT 59625 www.worldmontana.org
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 20, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Saturday April 20, 2024
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 20, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Saturday April 20, 2024
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Share
Jeffrey Tiberi says
Ron was a great seeker of that elusive “World Peace.” He devoted more than 35 years of his life to WorldMontana, a local NGO that helps organize visits by up and coming leaders from around the world. Over those 3+ decades he touched the lives of thousands of delegates from dozens of nations and cultures, making them feel at home in Montana, showing them how Montanans figure out ways to get along with each other. His pride in our history was easy to see, whether in the van driving to Yellowstone telling our colorful stories, or at the airport waving a flag to welcome the delegates. He was Montana’s citizen diplomat extraordinaire. Rest in Peace, Ron, your life made a difference. You will be missed.
Galen 'Mac' McAllister says
Whether at the Office of Public Instruction, on the board of World Montana, on the Helena Symphony board, or any of the other myriad of things Ron did, he always tried to make the world a better place. This world could use more people like Ron. At 83, he is still gone too soon. RIP.
Della Dobbins says
Titiana I’m sorry to hear that your husband has passed away. My thoughts are with you my friend. 😘
Della Dobbins
Angela Branz-Spall and James Spall says
Jim and I send our heartfelt sympathy to Tanya and the entire family for their loss. Ron was a true Renaissance man with an endless curiosity and a heart full of Joy! He will be deeply missed.
James Spall and Angela_Branz-Spall
Kip Stack says
My name is kip stack.I am one of about 159 cousins Ron had. Just kidding about the amount. It might be more. Anyhow , I digress. Over the years I tryed to keep in touch with Ron through the great invention(texting). Iwas courious about living in what I consider -the wilderness. He shared stories with me that I shall always draw energy from , in my more (city boy) as his pop used to call me life. I never new about many of Ron’s achievements until just recently. I remember at my mom’s funeral(Mickey Stack,Mae Marlene Lukenbill) , he and his brother Jim were such a great source of kindness towards me and my sis Robin. He was to me a man’s man . With his always warm smile , I shall miss him dearly. Ron, I hope yer killin the steelhead up there
STEVE ARMSTRONG says
Ron was instrumental in promoting the concept of “distance learning” at OPI in the late 1980s. It had to start somewhere, and Ron’s vision helped set up such a program. Some teachers from Helena High were involved with the effort, using 300k dial-up modems to communicate and provide instruction to students in eastern Montana, North Dakota, and even Alaska.
When Ron first grew that iconic beard, he had a slight resemblance of Tolstoy! He got a kick out of some of us asking him about that.
While I didn’t have Monica as a student at HHS, I had his other daughter Sarah as a student.
My sympathies to the Lukenbill family with the loss of Ross. He was a good man and made a positive impact on education in Montana.
Don Antonietti says
Monica and family so sorry about your loss Ron was a great guy and appriciated him very much.Hang in there. Don Antonietti
Ross Cannon says
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ron for a number of years. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. His many contributions to the Helena community will be remembered for many years to come. My sympathies to Tanya and members of his family.
Joe and Laurie Lamson says
Tanya, It was all of our good fortunes that Ron touched ours and so many others with his many kindnesses. A true good soul we all miss. Peace be with you.
Joe and Laurie Lamson
Sue Jackson says
Tanya, Monica and Sarah–The Coffee Contata was enriched by Ron’s presence. He was a true “Renaissance Man and a warm, supportive human being.
You’ll miss him terribly and I’m sorry.
Sue
Renee Arruda says
Sending love to you all from your California family❤️
You lived a beautiful life.
Rich, Renee, and Bobby Arruda
STEPHEN B MALY says
I had the great pleasure of traveling with Ron and Tanya to Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia, on several occasions, all associated with para-diplomatic work. What a pair! I cannot think of anyone then or since that didn’t respect and admire Ron for his intellect and social skills, myself included. On the lighter side of the ledger, I joked with Ron about his uncanny resemblance to Fidel Castro, visage-wise, which made videotaping his addresses to former citizens of the Soviet Union all the more enjoyable. Thanks to Tanya, he was able to say some important things in Russian. So many people will miss him, and all of them will remember him well. Such a great life.
Don Antonietti says
Monica Sorry i can”t make your Dad”s funreal. Will be out of town. But if you ever get back to town next lunch is on me. My phone number is 406 916 6078. Will be thinking of you and your family, Your Dad was a great guy. I will miss him. If you need anything please let me know. Don Antonietti
Nancy Lukenbill-Blessing says
To Ron’s life. Ron’s life was full of giving, celebrating and discovering the diversity of life. A father who so loved his two daughters, Monica and Sarah and their families in full mind and spirit. His personality traits shine in both daughters as they have paved their own lives with his compassion for others. Living life to his fullest was his goal. Rest in Peace, Ron.