09/07/2025
A message from Ron's family:
As many of you may already know, our father passed away unexpectedly at his home on August 26th. We’re reaching out to share how deeply proud he was of what he built with The Ridge Bar and Restaurant. It meant so much to him to be able to support and give back to the community he cared so deeply for. We are also very proud of our dad.
Growing up, he earned “head chef” in the house, and he was good at it (most of the time!). Recipes? Not his thing – unless it was one passed down from his mother. He had a natural talent for blending flavors and creating delicious meals that brought everyone to the table.
Taking a leap of faith, he decided to go into the restaurant business and opened The Ridge. After a long list of jobs, including but not limited to, farmer, truck driver, equipment salesman, realtor, and probably a few more we’re forgetting, we truly believe he found his happy place. It was there that his love for food, people, and community all came together.
He poured his heart into The Ridge over the past decade, spending countless hours doing what he loved most—welcoming old friends and making new ones. Seeing familiar faces walk through the doors brought him genuine happiness. It was rare for anyone to leave without a warm smile or greeting from Ron. He took great pride in giving back, whether through catering CSC athletic events, coaching gatherings, weddings, Fur Trade Days, or so many other special community moments. Supporting others brought him a deep sense of purpose and joy.
Our dad had a deep love for the Chadron community, and it meant the world to him to be a part of it. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shared kind words and memories on The Ridge’s page, left flowers and heartfelt messages outside of the restaurant, or sent personal messages to the family. Also, a very special thank you to the CSC rodeo team for the tribute to our dad. They have brought us comfort during this incredibly difficult time. It’s clear he touched many lives, and his absence will be deeply felt.
For now, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors to The Ridge. We remain hopeful that someone with the same passion and vision will step forward to breathe new life into what he built. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged, and loved our dad.
We are planning on having a funeral service in Torrington, WY on October 23rd and a Celebration of Life in Chadron, NE on October 25th. In honor of his memory and his dedication to the youth, a memorial has been established through the CSC Foundation to help young people attend athletic camps. Contributions can be made by check, payable to CSC Foundation, with Ron Memorial in the memo line.
Love,
Kim, Brooke, Sarah, Katelyn & Sydney
