Lovingly known to me as my Ronald; to his siblings as Ronnie; and to his many friends as Ron.
Ron was born in Russell Manitoba and moved to MacNutt Saskatchewan with mother Katherine and sister Adeline when his father Walter ran the Smellie Brothers Creamery there. Brother Myles came a bit later.
Ron was ambitious, adventurous, and a risk taker. His various jobs and travels took him across the country many times. He worked at the Creamery with his dad, drove a dry cleaning truck for Perth’s Cleaners in both Calgary and Yorkton; delivered Coke from Brandon; held a Manitoba liquor servers badge in Boissevain; did a stint at Kootenay Forest Products in Nelson - eventually working for many years for Palm Dairies, Purity Dairy, and Manitoba Cooperative .
Semi-retired to Nelson BC, Ron decided to purchase Wait’s News, a 50’s type coffee shop on the busy four corners of town. Co-workers, customers, neighbours and friends, it became the centre of our universe for a bit. Travel a few steps down Baker Street to Family Meats and Deli which he decided would be a good fit for us. He was right as usual. More good times, more learning, more good friends.
Upon deciding to retire once more, Ron went to help Dave Martin set up the Beer and Wine Store at the Heritage Inn. A month long assist turned into a five year job. No help for it, he could not stay still and loved taking to people. He ferried cars from Vancouver and Spokane for the local dealerships and worked on restoring his 1940 Ford Tudor with friend Andy Popoff.
Ron fought Parkinsons courageously and will be forever loved by his wife Audrey Kemp.