Ronald Neil Stickney, 93
Ron was born and raised in Coeur d'Alene as the eldest child of Howard and Florence Stickney. He was followed by siblings, Jim and Sally. He grew up outdoors, running and playing all over Coeur d'Alene and spending hours on the lake skating, swimming, diving and fishing with siblings, cousins and many friends, including: Smitty, Stolas and the Hyde brothers. He attended Roosevelt Elementary, Central Junior High and Coeur d'Alene High School, where he played basketball and baseball. He worked as a lifeguard at Coeur d'Alene City Beach in the summer.
Ron went on to attend North Idaho Junior College and then to receive his bachelor of science degree in forestry from University of Idaho. While in college, he worked graveyard on the green chain at Potlatch, often hitchhiking to get to class, where he lived in an abandoned dorm with his friend, George Huffman. Ron spent a year in the Navy and several seasons as a smokejumper before and after college.
Ron met his future wife, Donna Jenkins, in 1952 and they were married Aug. 28, 1954, at St. Thomas Church in Coeur d'Alene. They went on to have four children, Teresa, Tamara, Todd and Scott while Ron worked for the forest service in Kingston, Coeur d'Alene, Bozeman and Albuquerque. Ron made sure that his family was able to spend summers in Coeur d'Alene even though he was often out smoke jumping or crew bossing on forest fires.
After retiring from the forest service, Ron worked for several years as a partner in a land exchange company. In 1985, Ron and Donna moved to Seattle to help care for Donna's parents and grandmother. They remained in Seattle until 2007 when they moved back to the Coeur d'Alene area where they bought a home near their daughter, Teresa, and Donna's sister, Sandy, and husband, Ken. Grandchildren, nieces, nephews and eventually great-grandchildren lived in the same neighborhood, where there were many gatherings over the years.
In 2015, Ron was diagnosed with vascular dementia following a surgery. In 2018, he moved to Renaissance Assisted Living, where he was beloved by staff and lovingly cared for until his passing.
In June 2022, Ron contracted COVID and began receiving Hospice care in his home at Renaissance. He passed from this earth Oct. 30, 2022, at 9:05 p.m., surrounded by love. His wife, Donna, and his daughters were by his side.
Ron was a member of the Elks and the Eagles in both Coeur d'Alene and Bozeman. He was an accomplished genealogist who traced both sides of the family back for many generations, an enthusiastic outdoorsman who hunted with a camera rather than a gun, and a sweet, funny guy who always had a smile for everyone. He made family road trips an adventure with unexpected stops and detours along the way, and coin and candy rewards for quiet kids. He once drove the family all the way to Mazatlán and back from Bozeman and made it fun despite whining teens.
Ron was preceded in death by his son, Todd Stickney; parents, Howard and Florence Stickney; parents-in-law, Harry and Audrey Jenkins; sister, Sally Fuller and husband Wes; sister-in-law, Sandy Stoddard and husband Ken; sister-in-law, Beverly Stickney; niece and nephew, Kathleen and Jack Fuller.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Donna Stickney; daughters Teresa Kato (Mark) and Tamara Erickson; son Scott Stickney (Tammy); granddaughters Kristen Kato (Marc), Megan Kato (Joe), Nicole Erickson (Shamus) and Kelsey Kato; great-grandchildren Audrey, Emi, Sam and Leo; brother Jim Stickney; and numerous nephews, nieces and their children.
A memorial cruise for Ron's family and friends will be held on Coeur d'Alene Lake on Dec. 10, 2022. An interment ceremony will be held in the spring. Please contact the family at ronstickneymemorial@gmail.com for details.
Memorial contributions in Ron's name can be made to Hospice of North Idaho (www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org). Please visit Ron’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.