Blaine Kerr Ronne

Torrington, Wyoming – Blaine K. Ronne, 88, died Monday, March 24, 2014 at his home with family by his side. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at Valley View Cemetery in Torrington, Wyoming with Pastor Brian Kroeger officiating. The public is also invited to a reception at the United Methodist Church following burial. Memorials may be made to the Torrington Senior Friendship Center. Visitation will be Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com . Blaine was born July 19, 1925, in Lushton, Nebraska the son of Clyde LaVerne and Ruth Naomi (Kerr) Ronne. He attended rural grades near Lushton and high school in McCool Junction, Nebraska. He graduated with a BA degree from York (Nebraska) College in 1947. After teaching for a year in Friend, Nebraska, he went back to school and received his Masters from the University of Nebraska in 1952. Blaine’s major was School Administration and he worked as a School Superintendent for the next 23 years. He also worked in Waco, NE for six years, Oshkosh for four years and Torrington, Wyoming for 13 years. He retired from the education routine after serving four years as an Area Administrator for the Carbon County School District #2. He was a salesman at heart and worked first as a Book Salesman (for schools), then as an Insurance Salesman for Allstate. Because he was trained as an administrator he was hired as Director of the Torrington Senior Friendship Center for eight years (1980-1988). In the interim he was elected to serve as Mayor of Torrington from 1980-1984. Blaine served on the Goshen County Welfare Board for 13 years and was a member of the Wyoming State Board of Education and Wyoming School District Organization Committee from 1967-1972. He was a member of the American School Administration 1958-1971 and past President of the Wyoming School Administrators Association. He was an Off-Campus Instructor for the University of Wyoming. He never fully retired in his sixties and for the rest of his life (over 20 years) he worked as a Salesman for Ralston Advertising of Omaha, Nebraska. In his spare time, he spent many an hour at his cabin retreat in the Snowy Range Mountains near Laramie where he enjoyed cutting wood and hiking. He also had a shop equipped with every necessary tool to pursue woodworking projects. He made (to perfection) barnwood picture frames, oak bureaus, vanities, desks, boxes, etc. Blaine and Wilma built the house they live in 23 years ago. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Elks Club, and the Masonic Lodge. Blaine was married to Darlene Dillan June 30, 1948 and to this union two sons were born, Stephen and David. The couple divorced in 1969 and in 1972 he married Wilma “Jane” Arnold (Kumelos). Survivors include his first wife Darlene and his current wife Jane; his sons, Stephen of Cody, WY, daughter-in-law Sandy of Cheyenne, WY and their children Brad, Chelsey and Darcy; Chelsey’s husband Aaron Steinberg and their children Kaden and Calum; son David (Debra) and their three children, Caitlin, Taylor, and Morgan; one nephew Max (Karla) Ronne of York, NE; two nieces, Barbara (Anthony) Kopec of Eatenville, Washington and Karen (Gary) Helmer and their two children Steven and Douglas; four great nieces; four great nephews . He is also survived by numerous descendants to whom he was a step parent.. Preceding him in death were his parents; brother Raymond; sister Edith and niece Janice Lundy.

Blaine Kerr Ronne

July 19, 1925 - March 24, 2014