Kenneth Ronish

Kenneth Wayne Ronish of Helena passed away on November 1, 2024, in Billings from complications from heart surgery 56 days prior. Ken was born in Lewistown on June 3, 1947, to parents Roland (Zuff) and Viola Hohman Ronish. He was the only boy among three girls. They grew up on a ranch west of Denton, Montana. Ken graduated in 1965 from Denton High School where he participated in football and FFA. He attended Vo-Tech in Helena before joining the Army National Guard in 1968. He trained at Fort Campbell, KY and was based out of Lewistown. After training he returned to Denton and farmed with his dad. Ken met June Perrine of Hobson, and they were married on December 20, 1970. He then started working for Cargill Elevator for thirty years. Their first son, Shea, was born April 13, 1972, and passed away on June 9, 1972. They were blessed in 1973 with daughter, Misti, then son, Christian, their second blessing, was born in 1975. Unfortunately, June passed on May 17, 1982, leaving Ken as a single parent. While raising his two children he belonged to the Denton Rod & Gun Club and when the kids were in high school, he drove the team bus so he could watch them participate in their sports and activities. Ken was a hunter, fisherman, and an avid gardener with a garden large enough to feed many Denton families. After the kids left home and were married, Ken was elected to two terms as a Fergus County Commissioner. While serving in this position, Ken served on many community boards, such as Council on Aging and Head Start. In 2012 during his last year as a commissioner, Ken met the love of his life, Sandi Smith of Helena. At the end of his twelve years Ken retired and moved to Helena to join Sandi. Sandi and her friends inducted Ken into decorating a yearly tree for the Festival of Trees fundraiser for Intermountain of Helena. Together the team of five decorated award-winning trees for many years. Ken and Sandi started traveling the United States and the world. They became snowbirds spending their winters first in Mexico and then Yuma, AZ. When in Helena they enjoyed opening their home as an Airbnb meeting new friends and learning about other countries and states. They loved playing cards, dancing (Ken took dance lessons at the age of 74), canning cowboy candy, horseradish, and chokecherries. They loved throwing parties maybe murder mysteries, canning parties, Skip-Bo or pinochle, anything to have fun. Their homes were always alive with people and laughter. Ken also became an avid reader in his later years.

Ken is survived by his loving, faithful companion Sandi, his daughter Misti (Kris) Birdwell; their children Caleb (Daylen), Cooper, Conner (Kaitlin), and Rebecca, his son, Christian (Denae); their boys, Teylor, Kyler, Rylan, and Rylee Steyee, his sisters, Carol Whitmire, April (Ron) Todd, and JoAnn Nobel (Wayne Larson), nieces Kori Felix and Tonya Johnson. He is also survived by many Perrine brothers and sisters-in-laws, as well as Sandi's children, Erica and Adam Smith and grandchild, M Guarasci.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, June, his son, Shae and his beloved brother-in-law, Barry Nobel.

Services will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, November 9 at the First Presbyterian Church, 535 N. Ewing Street, Helena, MT with reception following at the church. Internment will take place on Sunday, November 10 at the Denton Cemetery at 1:00. In lieu of flowers you could donate to the Denton Fire and Ambulance or Intermountain in Helena, two charities Ken was involved with.