Ronald E. Schrader, age 74, of White Sulphur Springs

Ron was born to George W. Schrader and Hjordis Lindquist Schrader on March 5, 1950, in Bertha, Minnesota with his twin brother, Rolland David, joining their siblings, Bill, Roger, Jim, and Barbara. Sister, Janice had already passed at the age of 2.

When the logging boom started in the West, the family moved to Montana to look for work. Over time they moved to various places following the work including, Ashland, West Yellowstone, then Chestnut, where his two sweet twin sisters, Connie and Bonnie completed the family. Another set of twins! Ron attended school in White Sulphur Springs. He started working at Castle Mountain Ranch on weekends, then for his brother Roger as a sawyer. During that time he met the love of his life, Cheryl Magill of Helena. After a year and 1/2 courtship, they married on July 22, 1972, in Helena. Later, daughter Tammy and son, Joshua, completed his family.

Over the years Ron worked for Ken Mikesell as a sawyer, laborer, and rock crusher operator; the White Sulphur Springs Yellowstone Park Railway as a gandy dancer and engineer for several years until the Chicago Milwaulkee abandoned the Pacific Extention causing the WSSYPRR to shut down in 1980, shortly after they had just purchased their forever home. After the railroad closed down he started working at the local mill, Castle Mountain Corporation. For three years he was a Night Watchman and did contracted cleanup for the mill with his brother and best friend Jim until the mill permanently closed down 3 years later. He also worked for Bob Hanson, Elmer Hanson, Robert Dupea, and John Hanson, working with cattle and farming. He worked for his father-in-law, Emmet Magill, and brother-in-laws, Ron & Don, of Helena, as a laborer and an apprentice carpenter, where his love for working with wood started.

Ron enjoyed taking broken furniture, disassembling, repairing, reassembling, staining, and making them beautiful and useful again. He could see the beauty of a trash item and make it new again. It gave him great joy. Ron and Cheryl worked on their home together doing home renovations, for which every room had his touch on it, one way or another. Together they made a good team at all projects they did, inside or outside. In 1985 he asked the Lord into his heart. Later he was baptized by Pastor Kent Hekel at the Spa in WSS, which changed his heart and life forever. Never happier! As a final gesture of his devotion, during his final days in the hospital, he folded his hands, lifting them up towards the ceiling praying to his Father in Heaven. He loved the Lord.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, siblings Bill, Roger, Janice, Jim and his twin, Rolland (Babe). Ron is survived by his wife Cheryl of White Sulphur Springs, his children, Tammy, (Andy Miller) of Baker, MT; Joshua, (Rebecca) of Grants Pass, OR; grandchildren, Kaylee, Hunter, Jaden, Nevaeh, Tasia, Tatem, and JC, 2 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Barbara (Wes) Stidham of White Sulphur Springs, MT, Connie (Kurt) Seward and Bonnie (Les) Butler both of Forsyth, MT, sister-in-laws Kay of Birchdale, MN, Ilene Schrader of Hamilton, MT, and Sherry Parks of Billings, MT and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 11 AM at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in White Sulphur Springs with a luncheon provided at the Montana Roadhouse following the service until 3 PM. Bring a dessert and Please bring your stories of Ron.

Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

11:00 a.m.

Saturday December 7, 2024

Christian Missionary Alliance Church

702 2nd Ave SE

White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645

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Reception

Following the Funeral Service to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday December 7, 2024

Montana Roadhouse

904 3rd Ave SW

White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645

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