Ronald Curtiss, 73, of Libby

Ronald Glen Olaf Curtiss, avid bowler, outdoorsman, pontoon-boat captain and accomplished fire boss, passed away peacefully on Sept. 26, 2014, in Libby, at the age of 73.

He was born in Colville, Wash., to George and Bessie (Kyllo) Curtiss on May 27, 1941. He was the second of three boys. He grew up in Washington and Oregon and was very active in football, baseball, basketball and track during his youth. After graduating from Kettle Falls High school in 1960, he went to work as a firefighter for the Forest Service and attended college at Eastern Washington College.

He entered the smoke jumper program and had 98 fire jumps during a span of 11 years. Ron worked in fire and fuels during his entire Forest Service career.

Ron married Norma Rhett in Grangeville, Idaho, on Dec. 6, 1961. He fathered two children: Sandra Lee, born in 1966 in Missoula; and Mary June, born in 1968 in Missoula. They moved to Libby in 1972. Ron and Norma divorced in 1986.

He married Sharon Adkins on June 4, 1988, in Libby, and with that marriage came a daughter, Stacie Kay Adkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Bessie Curtiss.

He is survived by his wife Sharon of Libby; daughters Sandra Watts (Mike) of Albuquerque, N.M., Mary Kruse (Bob) of Kalispell, and Stacie Burns (Jason) of Helena; brothers Kelly Curtiss (Johnee) of Metaline, Wash., and Mike Curtiss (Judy) of Colville, Wash.; grandchildren, JR Rebo of Libby, Teri Berschneider (George) of Kailua, Hawaii, Elizabeth and Odin Kruse of Kalispell, Kijrstjn Kruse of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, and Kenyon and Kyle Burns of Helena.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Libby Christian Church. Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sept. 30, 2014, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.  Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com