According to his mother, Ron was born a little old man due to his serious nature. Ron, who had memories of living in a sod house on his parents' farm, was the eldest of four children. He loved everything about Nebraska but had a special place in his heart for the Cornhuskers; he was a loyal fan whether the team was winning or losing.

Ron graduated from the South Dakota School of Mining with a degree in engineering.

While in Michigan for his first job, a group of fellow athletes invited Ron to church, and it was there that he became of a follower of Christ. Eager to learn more about his new faith, Ron enrolled at Dallas Theology Seminary and graduated with a degree in Theology. Ron then became Dean of Men at Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, IL, where he met his future wife, Susan. Married for 57 years, Ron and Susan were blessed with three children, Amy, Andy, and Sherry.

Thankful to having married such a great cook and with a sweet tooth to guide him, Ron always knew Susan had cookies in the freezer. Ron had a keen interest in flowers and gardening and enjoyed working outside, especially after a day spent engineering at his desk. A more recent pastime was debating-with Susan' siblings,Tony and John (Judy too) about where to eat for the next birthday lunch. Ron liked to peruse the menu of each potential restaurant and check out their prices. Sea Galley was Ron's choice this past March. A fastidious money manager, Ron could account for every penny spent in their household. He could tell you about the year he was off by a penny!

From early on in their marriage, Ron and Susan had a passion for missions and missionaries. They traveled abroad on several mission trips and greatly encouraged missionaries from all over the world with their giving and hospitality. Ron was very dedicated to the studying of God's Word and enjoyed teaching the Bible whether it was from the pulpit, in a small group Bible study, or as a discussion leader for Bible Study Fellowship. From Chicago toYakima to Spokane to Okinawa and back toYakima, Ron's steadfast faith and love for God was unwavering. No doubt Ron is delighted to be furthering his education on all things Bible-related since being called into the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Ron is survived by his wife, Susan, and children Amy (Ben), Andy, and Sherry, along with his sister, Jane Vick, brother Max Sanders, and sister-in-law Joy Sanders. Susan's siblings include John (Judy) Crawford,Tony Crawford, David (Chung Hee) Crawford, and Cindy (Larry) McPherson. His grandchildren are Tyler Tran,Tristan Tran, Leah (Joey) Barlog, Lindy (Garth) Weber, Austin Sanders, McKinsey Sanders, and Mason Sanders. His great-grandchildren are Chance, Paxton, and Archer Barlog.