Obituary: Ronald Glen Kettle

Ronald Glen Kettle, 68, passed away Jan. 10, 2014, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo. He was born in Montrose, Colo. on Aug. 10, 1945, to Jesse Glen Kettle and Margaret (Penko) Kettle.
Ron graduated from Montrose High School in 1964. While attending Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colo., he met Estella Marie Gray and they married March 18, 1967, in Grand Junction. They continued with college there and then moved to Montrose, where he worked at the Montrose Assessors Office. While there, daughter Teresa Lynn and son James Glen were born.
The family moved to Kremmling, Colo., in 1973, then to Craig, Colo., in 1974, remaining in Craig. Ron remained working for the county assessor’s office, then went into independent real estate appraisal work.
He became an accredited rural appraiser (ARA), being a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, specializing in agriculture appraisals. Along with memberships in various Paint Horse Clubs, he belonged to the Montrose Elk’s Lodge.
During his lifetime, he has been involved in working on various horse events, including putting on rodeos and horse shows.
For the past 20 years, Ron and Marie have raised paint horses and showed them at paint horse shows. Their horses became winners and, in November 2013, their 8-year-old stallion became a work paint champion as All-around Open Horse, High Point Western Horse and Oscar Crigler Cattle Award winner. This brought great joy to Ron to see his horse achieve the great honors.
Mr. Kettle is survived by: his wife of 46 years, Marie (Gray) Kettle; their children Teresa Kettle and grandson Clayton Funkhouser of Sterling, Colo., Jim and (Linda) Kettle of Crowel, Texas, and two step granddaughters and two great granddaughters. He is also survived by: a brother, Tom and (Collen) Kettle of Montrose; and a niece and nephew and several aunts and uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Margaret Kettle.
A visitation for family and friends was held Jan. 17, 2014, at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside service in celebration of Ron’s life was held Jan. 18, 2014, at Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose.
Memorial donations can be made to your favorite youth scholarship program. Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colo.