Ronald G Kalainov

Ronald Ron George Kalainov, 60, Steele, died January 30, 2015, at his winter home in Peoria, AZ, after battling Bile Duct cancer for 18 months. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, February 14, at St. Francis de Sales Church, Steele, with Rev. Jerome Hunkler officiating. Family will be greeting visitors from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, February 13, at the Eastgate-Steele Memorial Chapel, Steele, ND, where an evening prayer service will be held at 7:00 pm. Burial will be held at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Cemetery in Steele, ND. Ron was born February 14, 1954, in Bismarck, ND, to Nick and Coletta Regner Kalainov. He grew up on the family farm north of Steele and attended Steele-Dawson HS, UND and NDSU. In 1976 he began working for Steiger Tractor in Fargo until 1984 when he moved back to the family farm at Steele. In 1992 he purchased the family farm and continued to farm and ranch until retiring in 2011. Ron served on the Allen Township Board, Farmers and Merchants Board, Steele Farmers Elevator Board and Kidder County Ducks Unlimited. He was a member of NRA, AOPA and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Steele. Ron married Judy Cunningham on Sept 1, 1978, and together they had two children, Tracey and Lindsay. Ron had a great love for the outdoors and hunting. Fall was his favorite season, when he could harvest the fruits of his labor and then enjoy hunting pheasant and deer with his buddies. He was an excellent marksman, winning many shooting competitions. Ron's favorite place to be was up in the sky in one of his airplanes. Flying was natural for him, having learned from his Dad at a young age. He loved the wide open sky and the wide open prairie fields of ND. Ron was also an excellent mechanic. He could fix anything except the broken hearts of loved ones left behind. In 2008, he and Judy purchased a home in Peoria, AZ, where he was able to enjoy several winters in the sun. Ron was a conservative man with a gentle spirit. His smile was genuine and he loved to make others laugh with his famous quips. Material things were not important to him and he would never purchase anything unless he could pay for it. He was fearless every day of his life and knew that his journey in life was in God's hands. Ron was blessed to spend time with his first grandchild, Easton Russell. Ron is survived by his friend of 43 years and wife of 36 years, Judy; his son, Tracey Melanie Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; his daughter, Lindsay Rendell Russell, Coon Rapids, MN; his grandson, Easton Russell; his mother, Coletta Kalainov, Steele; his sisters, Nicolyn Georg Marcum, Port Allen, LA, Pam Donnie Rudolph, Dawson, Kim Ed Waa, Bismarck, Jan Jack Schultz, Montpelier; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn Cunningham, Bismarck. He was preceded in death by his father, Nick Kalainov; his grandparents, George and Celia Kalainov and Cletus and Maggie Regner; two nephews, Troy Rudolph and Benji Dewald; his father-in-law, Robert Cunningham; and his best friend and cousin, Jerry Rohrich. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Valley www.hov.org/donate or Kidder County Angels, Steele ND 58482.

Ronald G Kalainov

February 14, 1954 - January 30, 2015