Benjamin Ronald Monk

March 24, 1937 – May 24, 2017

Born Cowley, Wyoming

As family we feel the best way to remember Ron Monk’s life is by his own writings. Throughout our lives we have learned so much from him by his examples of kindness, love and dedication. When reading his own words it is easy to understand why he was dearly loved by so many. We hope the beliefs and values that guided his own life will be remembered and carried on by his posterity.

THOUGHTS OF WHY I AM THE PERSON THAT I AM (requested by Lia)

I must start by mentioning my first 18 years as they have had such a profound influence in my life.

I grew up in a small Mormon community (nearly 100%) and nearly all were trying to live after the manner of Christ. This was my foundation.

We were a poor family as to things material, so I LEARNED TO NOT EXPECT MUCH MATERIALLY BUT TO GIVE THANKS.

Shortly after my parents divorced (around my 5th year of school) I LEARNED TO WORK. I remember sitting with my father on the east steps of the High School. Dad was near the top and I was just a few steps below him. He indicated that he could not take care of the school buildings without my help. Knowing that he needed me I said I would help winter and summer.

I LEARNED THERE ARE GOOD AND CARING PEOPLE ALL AROUND US. After the divorce many helped my mother, father and me.

I LEARNED TO SERVE OTHERS by accepting callings to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

FINDING SOMEONE TO GIVE FULL LOVE TO AND THEY IN RETURN GIVING ALL BACK gives me peace and joy. It has kept me from seeking after worldly needs.

The formula has been simple and made me who I am.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY WRITTEN BY RON HIMSELF:

After leaving Cowley I moved to Denver, Colorado, where I attended and graduated from Parks Business College in Higher Accounting and Business Administration.

I worked for United Airlines for 37 years before retiring in 1997. When United Airlines determined they needed to develop an “online real-time” computer system I was selected to be one of ten program designers. We developed and implemented United Airlines’ first “online real-time” computer system. This system developed into what now is the Apollo System being used throughout the world. While at United Airlines I was part of the spin off of the food service division into a stand-alone cost center. During this time I assisted in the development of computerization and establishment of Business Managers in each of the flight kitchens.

Having moved several times to different addresses I have only lived in the Denver, Colorado area and in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

In 1962 I married Alta Steidley in the Logan Temple. We had three boys. Scott lived in New Jersey and worked as a trauma surgeon. He died in 2006 and is survived by his wife Nancy and two sons, Joshua and David. Keith lives in Wisconsin and does computer consulting. He is married and has one daughter, Keli. Kevin lives in New York City where he works as a stagehand and writes children’s television. He is married and has two girls and a boy, Genevieve, Emmery and Lucas.

After 19 years Alta and I divorced.

Cheryl Delehoy and I have been married 34 years and we raised her daughter and twin boys. Lia lives in Denver and has a degree in personal training. M.J. the oldest twin lives in Greenwood Village. He works for Tek Systems as a national contract manager. He has two daughters, Ella and Morgan. Dan works as Head Channel Communications Manager for Sprint Connect. He has three sons and one daughter, Trey, Camden, Leila and Easton.

All of my life I have been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I went on a mission to Denmark in 1957, 1958 and 1959 (In those years the mission was for 2 ½ years). I have been back to Denmark four times since my mission. I have served in four bishoprics and am presently serving in the Greenwood Village Ward Bishopric as well as serving in the Denver Temple. I have served in various stake positions for over 20 years.

I traveled extensively with my employment as well as traveling much of the world as a tourist. In the last couple of years we have traveled Mainland China, England, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the South Pacific and Hawaii as well as Mesoamerica on a Book of Mormon Tour.

FURTHER LIFE MEMORIES WRITTEN BY RON HIMSELF:

History, memories and stories relating to Benjamin Ronald Monk as remembered by myself at age 78.

The events, memories and stories are not always in chronological sequence.

I was born 24 March 1937 to Benjamin Jones Monk and Zela Schow Johnson. I am the only child of this marriage. This was the second marriage of both my father and mother. Each having lost their first spouse to death; therefore, I have two half brothers and two half sisters. Jesse Ray Asay son of my mother and Edgar T Monk, Sarah Monk and Louise Monk children of my father.

I lived in Cowley, Wyoming from birth thru high school (1955). Cowley was a small community settled by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1900s. The school was small so we got much individual attention. My high school graduating class consisted of 21 students and I graduated as salutatorian.

Around the fifth grade my parents divorced. I lived with my father but my mother also lived in Cowley/Deaver area so I could continue to spend time with her. One thing I always knew was my parents loved me and sacrificed much for me.

My father worked for the Great Western Sugar Company as the boiler house foreman. During the off season, when the factory was closed, Dad work as the night watchman. When I was very young Dad took me with him one night. As we left the factory to check outside the wind was blowing and it was so dark. The wind would rattle the empty train cars waiting to be filled with sugar. We only had a flashlight and I was so afraid. I keep very close to my dad. This experience and others taught me early in life that fathers and mothers are protectors of their children. When the sugar factory closed and the sugar beets where being shipped to other places my father became custodian of the Cowley High School.

Sometime around grades six or seven I recall my father sitting beside me on the steps of the high school explaining to me that he was no longer able to take care of the school alone. He asked me to help him during the evenings and the summers. Understanding my father’s plea I joined him in his labor.

Not being very athletic I became the manager of the high school football and basketball teams. I traveled with the teams and learned such things as wrapping ankles, managing equipment etc.

The Bishop and Scoutmaster of the Cowley Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints kept close to me and kept me close to the church; therefore, I have been an active member of the church all my life.

In my early childhood the second world war involving over thirty countries was being fought. (1939 -1945) I remember ration stamps and tokens for some foods, gasoline, oil and car tires. We always had sufficient and even more. My father raised a large garden and mother would bottle the produce. I recall helping with the weeding and putting the bottled goods in the root cellar. We also had a few chickens, a pig, and a calf that provided food. A few sheep provided cash income. This probably was a start to learning self-sufficiency and saving which has been a trait in my adult life.

As a youth I had the paper route for the Billings Montana Gazette (Billings is about 80 miles from Cowley). My newspaper route covered the whole town of Cowley. The paper cost 90 cents per week. Most people would pay me with a silver dollar. A bag full of silver dollars is heavy. Paper money was fairly scare in the area. Ramona Sessions -- whom later married my brother Jesse Ray Asay -- worked at the bank and would save paper money for my silver dollars. Oh how I wish I had some of those silver dollars today!

In 1955 I moved to Denver Colorado and lived a short time with my brother Jesse Ray Asay and his wife Ramona while attending Parks Business College. In early 1957 I received a mission call from President David O McKay of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Danish Mission (this was the country of Denmark). In May of that year I arrived in Denmark. At that time missionaries were not allowed to fly. So I traveled from Salt Lake City, Utah to New York City by train and then sailed by ship to Denmark.

My mission was not the typical LDS mission. After only a few months of door to door tracking President Petersen, mission president, called me to serve in the office. He asked that I travel throughout the mission alone. Checking on new building construction, branch finances, etc. Sometimes I wish I had learned to teach and proselyte. I did however have other great experiences. As general authorities and others would visit the mission, I was assigned to work and or travel with them. Some of those I worked and travelled with were: Henry D Moyle (Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the church), Elder Bruce R McConkie (Quorum of the 12 apostles), Elder and Sister LeGrand Richards (Quorum of the 12 apostles), Elder and Sister Ezra Taft Benson (Quorum of the 12 apostles and at the time of his visit also United States Secretary of Agriculture), Ernest L Wilkinson (President of Brigham Young University) and others. Some of the travels where for weeks.

Stories related to some of the visits:

Henry D Moyle taught me a principle that I have never forgotten. At the mission office there was no doubt who was in charge, President Moyle. When we went to the Mission President’s home for supper we were kneeling around the large dining table for evening prayer. We waited and waited when President Moyle said “President Petersen (mission president) are you going to call on someone to pray? This is your home and therefore you are in charge.” To this day I respect the head of the home.

One evening, while sitting on a ship in the Copenhagen harbor with Elder LeGrand Richards and his wife, he began to talk about his father, George F Richards. He talked about the calling of his father to the Quorum of the 12 apostles. His father, David O McKay and Orson F Whitney were all called at the same time. His father was ordained ahead of David O McKay. That made George F Richards senior to David O McKay. With the death of Heber J Grant, George Albert Smith became the President of the Church. George F Richards then became President of the Quorum of 12 apostles. LeGrand Richards then explained that his father, George F Richards, became ill in 1950 and died in August. This made David O McKay President of the Quorum of 12 apostles. When George Albert Smith, died in April 1951, David O McKay became president of the church. Elder Richards went on to say that his father was every bit as worthy to be Prophet but the Lord wanted David O McKay to be Prophet. He went on to say look at the administration of President McKay.

Then to lighten the mood Elder Richards said, “Elder Monk if you ever get in the quorum look who is behind you, for the Lord will have the proper person in place when needed.” I have a testimony that the Lord will have the proper person in the proper place and it makes a difference in how I see people in their service.

Sometimes members in the Church saw Bruce R McConkie as stern. I recall Elder McConkie as a kind and understanding man. Upon his arrival to the mission office, Elder McConkie said, “I need some time with President Petersen (Mission President) we will go to the mission home.” Elder McConkie told me that upon leaving Salt Lake City he was given a stack of papers and instructed to dedicate the church buildings that had been paid for in full. If the building hadn’t been paid in full yet, to wait to dedicate it. He handed me the papers and told me to write “dedicate” or “don’t dedicate” on each of the papers. To this day I wonder if I did all of them correctly. I hope Elder McConkie also reviewed them. As Elder McConkie was leaving, he took me to the back of the car and said, “If you ever need a job, come to Salt Lake City and look me up. I will get you a job.”

Visitation to be held beginning at 10:00 am, Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6061 S Havana St, Englewood, CO 80111. Funeral Service to follow at 11:30 am at church with Committal Service at 1:15 pm at Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121.