Ronald Arlen West

Ron was born on January 16, 1947, to Arlen and Edith West. He was raised by his loving parents alongside his brother, Steve, and sister, Phyllis, in Ottawa, Kansas. He attended grade school, junior high, and high school in Ottawa, where he played football, ran cross country, and even tried soccer for a year. He loved helping and learning from his dad around their home and fondly remembered all his mom’s delicious meals, especially the peach and rhubarb pies. He spent idyllic summers of his childhood with his siblings and cousins and especially loved going to the farm of his Uncle Roland/Aunt Irene to help out, fish in their pond, and share family holiday dinners together.

After high school, Ron started college at the Emporia State Teacher College, but then decided he’d rather be working. He went to work for the CASE Farm Equipment Company, following in his father’s footsteps, and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. For nearly 4 years, he was assigned to the experimental department where he was on a team taking apart equipment and parts that had failed and working with the factory to make upgrades.

Ron then moved to Colorado with his young family in the early 1970’s after visiting on a hunting trip and falling in love with the mountains. He started out in Glenwood Springs at the Garfield County Road & Bridge Department, and then later moved to Rifle, before settling down and creating a lovely home on Silt Mesa and working at the local Roads Department office for the next 20 years, eventually becoming the foreman. During this time, he also spent several years as a reserve police officer for the Rifle Police Department. After retiring, he took some time to relax and visit family and old friends, before joining Walters Construction Company in Glenwood, where he worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator/Truck Driver for the next 15 years. Through his many work years in the area, he made lifelong friends.

Ron was the father of three children he deeply loved and was loved by. He shared with them his joy for the outdoors, and they often took day drives or weekend camping trips in the nearby mountains. He was an avid hunter during deer, elk, and duck seasons and loved fishing at the nearby river and at Harvey and Rifle Gap lakes. He loved teaching his children (and grandchildren) to hunt and fish and some of his happiest and proudest moments were made with them enjoying these activities. He loved that they were leading fulfilling lives and had created loving families of their own. And spending time with his grandchildren was always a momentous occasion to him.

Ron loved animals and at his Silt Mesa home he was known for raising rabbits, ducks, turkeys, and pigeons; and he took great care of his horses. He almost always had a sweet dog as a companion. And, after his parents moved to the Silt area, he loved helping his father with their Black Angus Cattle Ranch and helping his mother with her large garden and the care of her barn cats and litters of kittens… a task he took over after she passed away.

From boyhood, Ron was drawn to the outdoors. Being in the mountains of Colorado and next to a river were the best places on earth; it was where he felt most at peace. He was in awe of the beauty found in the mountains, and he wanted to share this love with family and friends. Summer weekends were often spent camping alongside a high mountain lake. The rougher the road and the more challenging to get to the campsite, the better! Once camp was set up, chairs and fishing poles arranged alongside the lake, and a cold beer in hand, all was good in the world. A lot of thick coffee, hot chocolate, smoky dinners, and smores were made on his campfires.

Ron was a person who believed in living by example, and he passed along his love for the outdoors and respect for others and nature to his children, grandchildren, and other family. He lived his life with kindness, generosity, and humility. He worked hard at his job and at home, had perfected many skills, and always had some project keeping him busy. He wasn’t one to talk about himself and everything he knew how to do, but he was quick to offer to help and teach others. He was a quiet person, and preferred more to listen than to talk, but would lean in with keen advice if asked. He also had immense strength and perseverance that helped him navigate life’s challenges, especially in the later years. When asked recently what was his greatest adventure… he simply and astutely said… “life itself!”

Ron is survived by his children Kelly (Malinda) West, Julie (Mark) West-Thompson, and Ronald Jr./Ron (Monique) West; his children’s mother, Mary Ann Olson; grandchildren Justin, Kylee, Kody, Hendrix, and Marley; his siblings Steve West and Phyllis (Jimmy) Ghersi; stepdaughters Kristy, Stacey, and Danielle and their mother, Janet; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and friends whom he loved dearly. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Arlen and Edith West; his sister-in-law, Glenna West; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and other family members.

Dad/Papa/Grandpa/Ron, you will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved you.

A celebration of life will be held at the home of Kelly and Malinda West (288 S. Meadow Drive, Rifle, CO) on Sunday, July 23 from 10am – 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts for Ron may be made to the organization of your choice.