Ronald J. Remick, 68, former Havre resident and longtime north-central Montana businessman, died July 1 of cancer at Peace Hospice, Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton.
He had also lived in the nearby communities of Rudyard and Big Sandy for a number of years. Memorial service is scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fort Benton. A remembrance and fellowship luncheon will immediately follow at approximately 12:15 p.m. at the Montana Agricultural Center, also in Fort Benton. Cremation has taken place. Benton Funeral Home in Fort Benton is in charge of arrangements. He is survived by his wife, Judy Remick of Fort Benton; children, Leigh Remick (James Armstrong) of Louisville, Ky. And Jeffrey (Ingrid) Remick of Crookston, Minn.; stepchildren, LeAnn (Eric) Engen of Fort Benton, Christian (Kimberley) Westenskow of Mesa, Ariz., Jonathan (Maylee) Westenskow of Sumter, S.C., Mark (Melissa) Westenskow of Livingston; his father, Bernard Remick of Red Lake Falls, Minn.; siblings, Douglas Remick of Helena, Sylvia (Bruce) Morey of Carlyle, Ill., Andrew Remick of Airway Heights, Wash., Suzanne (Roger) Combs of Peoria, Ariz., Dwight Remick of Ritzville, Wash., and Craig (Jo) Remick of Omaha, Neb.; and 17 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Madeline (Amiot) Remick, and a granddaughter, Chelsea Westenskow. Ron was born on June 24, 1940, in Crookston, Minn., to Bernard and Madeline (Amiot) Remick. He attended school in Erskine, Minn., and Oklee, Minn., graduating from Oklee High School in 1958. Upon graduation, he attended the National School of Meat Cutting in Toledo, Ohio, receiving his diploma in 1959. In June of 1960, Ron married Sharon Johnson in Oklee. The couple was married for 24 years, divorcing in 1984. He married Judy (Case) Westenskow in Havre in the fall of 1985. Ron began his business career as a storeowner in Bagley, Minn. The Remicks moved to Montana in 1964. Ron was a butcher and grocery manager at food stores in both Townsend and Conrad. From 1969 to 1971, he attended classes in business and finance at the College of Great Falls (now University of Great Falls), receiving an associates degree in 1971. In 1971 he was hired as an operations staff member at Pondera Bank of Montana in Conrad. Ron received several promotions within the Bank of Montana system leading to his appointment as president of their banks in both Rudyard and Big Sandy. During his 27-year banking career, he worked at banks and financial institutions in Havre, Wolf Point, Geraldine and Fort Benton. After retiring from banking, Ron was a book broker, calling on colleges and universities in Montana, Oregon, North Dakota and Minnesota. Throughout his life, Ron was involved in numerous civic, religious and community organizations, often assuming leadership positions in communities where he lived. He was a long-term member of the Havre Elks Lodge, serving as Exalted Ruler in 1988-89. He also served as a member of both the local and statewide Elks scholarship committees. In 1993, Governor Stan Stephens appointed him to the Montana Board of Chiropractors, a post he held for several years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Camp Make-A-Dream for children, young adults and families affected by cancer at P.O. Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806, www. Campdream.org, Peace Hospice of Montana at 1101 26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405, or charities of individual choice.
