Obituary of Ronald Murray Hill

Ron or “Rocky” to his old friends, was born in Washington Kansas to Peter and Elva Hill. He was one of four children. He had an older brother Clifford, an older sister Cleone, a younger brother Robert and a brother lost in childbirth. He loved them all and remained close to them throughout life.

Ron’s family later moved to Beatrice Nebraska where his dad purchased and owned a Pool Hall. Ron grew up in his preteen years often helping his dad take care of the hall. He also became the Nebraska state champion pool player at the age of 14.

Ron’s dad later purchased the Rockhurst Ranch west of Loveland Colorado in 1949. Ron became a stockman, rancher, and a cowboy helping his dad raising, training and selling well-bred ranch horses. Ron often talked about all the livestock that he took care of growing up as a young man. He would milk cows before daylight and spend afternoons riding and training horses. His dad often had as many as 75 horses that needed to be taken care of. His stories of the ranch life surrounded by cattle, horses, chickens, and dogs were a treasure. His friends loved hanging out with him and would often help. Ron’s dad purchased a wheat farm in eastern Colorado and Ron spent one summer with his friend living in a grain silo and sitting on a tractor plowing a section of land with a one-way plow. The following year a riding stable was added to the ranch operation. It was located at First Street and Taft Ave. In the summers Ron would run the stable and rent horses to ride in the nearby country. This is where he met his lifelong love, Shirley Ann Smith. She would come by, and Ron would always put her on a horse that would only go a block or two and come back to the stable. Ron’s dad suddenly passed away and the ranch and stable were sold when Ron was still a young man. Ron then ventured out and moved to California near his older brother and sister. He worked in a production factory and punched a time clock each day. This was not for him, and he longed to go back home to a simpler life. He missed his love Shirley, and they were soon together again.

Ron and Shirley were married on February 22, 1957, in Loveland Colorado. They soon began a family and embarked on Journey together of 67 years. They welcomed with love into their lives Ronnie John Hill in 1957 and Connie Elaine Hill in 1959. The next 12 years were consumed with Ron and Shirley working hard each day and raising their children. These were some of the best memories shared by the Hill family. Ron and Shirley had an advertising business and traveled the western united states. Shirley was the ad salesman with Ron painting advertising and installing stage curtains. In the mid-1960s Ron and Shirley retired from their business and found separate careers. Shirley worked until retirement with HP and Ron working as a carpenter. He was part of a crew that constructed some of the first large condominiums in Ft. Collins. The weekends and vacations were filled with camping and fishing trips to mountain lakes in Colorado and Wyoming. Ron was an accomplished fisherman both in spinning rod and fly rod fishing. These were the best of times for the whole family.

In 1969 Ron was offered a ranch position with Maitland Ranches, a large livestock enterprise of several ranches and a farm. His love of livestock and ranching called him back to his days growing up on his father’s ranch. He soon was asked and accepted the manager position of the operation. He spent the next 20 years supervising the cattle, hay, and farming operations. Ron was known as one of the best cowmen in the western area. Each year the cattle would win top ribbons at the National Western Stock show and sell for a premium dollar. He was also known to the horse world as the best grass hay producer in the country. Dignitaries from all over the world would stop by on their way to Estes to see the prized cattle and beautiful horse hay that was produced. Ron was the inspiration and drive for the success of a high producing ranch. In the late 1980s as the owners retired from the ranch business, Ron and his son took over and leased the ranches. They also leased additional land and built a business together known as Hill Cattle Company. Together they worked raising cattle and hay for the next 12 years. Long days and nights would be the norm and they were often surrounded by the many friends that would help them. Ron was a good friend to many of the neighbors that came to ride and help with the big roundups in the fall. Delbert, Chris, the Shiracks, and the Rankins, would become known as “The Cowboys”. They will be forever a part of the Hill family. Young men including his nephew David Lengkeek and Marty Mielke, Debbie’s brother, enjoyed their summer working for Ron. All the young men never forgot, his humor, and the life lessons he taught them. Later years they would often come by to see him and tell him how those days cemented special and important impressions growing up. One of the largest operations remaining in the area, Hill Cattle Company, retired in 2000.

Ron and Shirley had a small 5-acre home and resided with the dogs, cats, and a retired ranch horse. Ron and Shirley would take enjoyable trips vacationing with Shirley’s sister Donna and her husband Dallas Kalahar. Ron’s daughter Connie was a diamond in his eyes. She gave grandpa two beautiful granddaughters Jennifer and Josie. Jennifer and Josie would spend countless days and hours with their Grandpa Hill. They later gave grandpa many more adorable and loved great grandchildren. Ronnie, his son stayed aside his dad for most of his life. They had a loving bond that was never broken. Ronnie and his wife Debbie gave grandpa his only grandson Chance. Although Chance came later in life, grandpa watched his grandson grow into a successful young man. Chance, Jennifer, Josie and all the great grandchildren were grandpa and grandma’s sunshine.

Ron was a perfectionist in everything he did, and if you hung out with him you would need a lot of patience. He could build fine furniture, overhaul an engine, or completely design and fabricate an item of need. He was a gifted artist and painted many mountain and wildlife scenes. He enjoyed racing at the drag strips in the sixties. He owned a Willys jeep and along with his friend Ray Huffaker who also had jeeps, they would go camping and hunting. Ron had a special gift with animals, they loved him, and he loved them back. The bond with his dogs, horses, cats and even some cows was a joy to see. It was different with the fish though, when fish heard his name, they would quake in their fins.

At the end Ron battled cancer for two and a half years, and finally left his pain behind to join those waiting for him in heaven. He has finished the last roundup and rode life’s journey to the top of the mountain where he will meet our lord upon the horizon. We will remember him and cherish the day when we can all be together again as Jesus promised through his death on the cross.

Ron is survived by his wife Shirley; his son Ronnie, and his wife Debbie, and grandson Chance Hill; his daughter Connie, his granddaughter Jennifer, and her husband Art Garza; his granddaughter Josie and her husband Pete Rithmiller and numerous great grandchildren.

Rest in Peace Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, and Friend…

In Lieu of Flowers donations can be made towards a memorial bench in Ron’s name.