Ronald Floyd Ness, died unexpectedly November 29, 2024. He was born August 19, 1951 and was the son of Floyd and Helen Ness.

Ron was an explorer with a sense of wonder and curiosity that brought him all kinds of experiences. He loved sharing his adventures with others, making those trips special for everyone. He loved hiking and backpacking (sometimes with horses) in the mountains, sleeping under the stars, with his beloved Brittany Spaniel, Chance.

He loved rock hunting in Montana. He found pockets of smoky quartz crystals high up in the mountains. Taking us up there, he would point out minute details all around him, sometimes driving what seemed to be precarious speeds on those old narrow logging trails. For more than 20 years, every Memorial day weekend, he met his family half way at Terry Montana to hunt Montana Moss agates. He loved slicing and polishing agates, thrilled to unlock what was hidden inside each rock.

He built his own home overlooking the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers in Bonner, Montana.

He was a great storyteller, with an endless supply of funny, harrowing experiences to tell. He was a good listener, not hesitant to ask, "Why is that?" or "How do you know?" He often engaged with complete strangers, chatting and joking or as Ron would call it, "shooting the sh..". He'd leave with a laugh and a new friend. He made your day better. He believed that "Everyone is doing the best they can."

Ron had set a goal of seeing all the states of North America and all the Canadian provinces (where he dipped his toe in the Arctic ocean). He was only 5 states short.

He loved playing World of Warcraft, becoming close friends with people from all over the world. He liked competitive games, gloating when he was victorious, or those "few times he lost" (Ron's words) offering a congratulatory high five only to leave your hand hanging as he pulled his hand back, faster than Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.

He loved trying (and coaxing others to try) exotic foods; crickets, camels, alligators, snapping turtles, just to name a few.

As he drove in his van "Blackie" he loved to sing. Some of his favorite songs to sing were One Hundred Years to Live, Mr. Blue Sky, Rubberband Man, Ride My See Saw, and the entire Gord's Gold album.

Among other work, he had been a lathe operator at a plywood plant, an accountant, a black jack dealer in Las Vegas, worked on a crabbing boat off the Alaska coastline, assembled bikes and was the primary caregiver for his mother.

One of his last great challenges was when Ron was diagnosed with cancer. Ron decided, as was his way, he would not dwell on it or feel sorry for himself. Buoyed by the valliant battles fought by his sisters before him as well as the loved ones around him, Ron looked at cancer as another journey in uncharted territory.

Ron was a huge presence in our lives. He will be with us, cheering us on as we do "the best we can" with our own joys and challenges. And he will still leave us hanging as he pulls that high five back.

He is survived by his sisters; Linda Ness (Randy Borchers), Patricia Ness (Rich Vandermade), Nancy Ness (Michael Pearson), a brother-in-law,  Art Hasert and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Helen Ness, his siblings; Roger Ness, Kathy Hasert, Marilyn Nelson, Diane Ness.

Many thanks to his nephew, Eric Woker, for giving Ron companionship for many years. We are so appreciative.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 8th, 2025 from 1 - 5 pm at the Morehouse Park Pavilion in Owatonna.

Memorials will be used toward a memorial bench for Ron. https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebrate-ron-nesss-life-with-a-bench?attribution_id=sl:86f72223-7c04-42fb-92d2-71066be300b7