Obituary: Ronald B. Sampson

Ronald B. Sampson, 79, passed away April 5, 2017, at his home with his loving wife and youngest daughter at his side.

Cremation has taken place, and no services will be held at this time.

Memorial donations in Ronald's name may be made to Independence Bank for his daughter Angel Sampson's education, Liberty House, or to a charity of one's choice.

Holland and Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Ronald's online memorial page at http://www.hollandbonine.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

Ronald was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, the eldest of four children born to Shirley Sampson. He received his formal education in Worcester, attending Worcester Boys Trade High School, where his interest in carpentry was sparked.

Ronald was always very motivated, working when he wasn't in school. Before school and on weekends, he delivered the paper and helped his stepdad with the bread truck, and shined shoes after school. Ronald was known as the "Professor" to the kids in the neighborhood because he was so smart, which was aided by his photographic memory. He was only 15 when he bought his own automobile, but with a learner's permit, he was required to be accompanied by an adult while driving. Ronald worked weekends with his uncle Eddie, who owned his own carpentry business. After Worcester was hit with a devastating tornado in the early 1950s, Ronald quit school to go to work full time with his uncle.

At the age of 17, after careful consideration, he decided to go into the military. His mother signed off, and in 1954 Ronald joined the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, Ronald completed his high school education and received his GED. He was encouraged to take the college aptitude exam, and he passed half of the courses. Following basic training, Ronald came home on leave to marry his childhood sweetheart, Nancy O'Connel, with whom he later had seven children. His orders soon came, indicating he was to be stationed in Guam, and then he was relocated to Japan. Nancy remained in Worcester until Ronald re-enlisted, which paid for her flight to Japan. After Japan, he was stationed in California, and then Spokane, Washington, before his honorable discharge in 1961. The couple eventually moved back to his hometown of Worcester, and they divorced in 1965, although they remained good friends until Nancy passed away.

Ronald met and married Wendy Dunbar in 1966. They remained in Worcester for a short time before moving to Montana, where they moved around a bit before settling in Havre. The couple had six children together. Ronald and Wendy also later divorced.

On April 1, 1989, Ronald met Debra Springer, and was instantly smitten. Ronald and Debra continued to date for four years, learning and sharing everything about each other and their families. In June 1993, Ronald asked Debra to marry him, and they married on Aug. 5, 1993. Their daughter, Angel, was born on Christmas 1995, and they remained in Hingham.

Through the years, Ronald worked as an apprentice lineman for the Great Northern Railroad, a signalman for the Burlington Northern Railroad, and as a journeyman electrician for Mack's Electric. Ronald went on to get his master electrician license in 1975. In 1981, he got certified as an electrical inspector general. While in Lewistown, he ran his own electrical company and was later employed as the state electrical inspector. When a position opened at the Havre Air Force base, he applied for and received the master electrician position. He moved to Havre where he remained until 1992, when he and Debra bought a house in Hingham. When the new contractors took over, they asked Ronald to stay as the new project manager/master electrician. He next worked at Northern Montana College as the electrician on campus.

When BNSF advertised for a locomotive electrician's job, Ronald applied and got the job. He remained until 2001 when his health started to decline. In 2009, he was forced to cease all work due to a partial leg amputation. Ronald returned home from Denver in a wheel chair, where he had been fitted with a prosthetic leg. He moved around using the aid of a walker or quad cane, but that didn't stop him from getting around. Sometimes he would forget he was supposed to use walking aids to help get around. Ronald continued to putter around the house and in his garage, doing tasks that had been put off.

Ronald enjoyed life to the fullest, never having any regrets. Working two jobs for most of his life, he still found or made time to take in the great outdoors. After he retired he had a lot more time to do the things he really enjoyed. He got to travel back east a couple of times to visit with his children, grandchildren, and some of the great-grandchildren. Family was an important factor in Ronald's life. Ronald really enjoyed hunting, boating, fishing, camping, horseshoes and just sitting around the campfire enjoying conversation with friends. Ronald also enjoyed playing pool, throwing darts, and dancing. Away or at home, he enjoyed playing Jenga and card games, especially pinochle and cribbage.

In the quiet time spent at home, he loved watching TV programs, John Wayne movies, Fox News, science fiction and especially the Western channel. He was a kind and generous man, who was a good judge of character when it came to people. He loved visiting with everyone, meeting someone new and learning about them, especially the things they may have had in common. Ronald will be greatly missed by all his family and his many friends. Ronald was a Disabled American Veteran and had been a member of the American Legion for many years.

Ronald was preceded in death by his mother, his sister Marilyn and his brother, David.

Ronald is survived by Debra Sampson of Hingham, his loving wife of 23 years; his children, Debra (George) Smalanskas, Ron (Diane) Sampson, Shayne Sampson, Ricky (Kelly) Sampson, Timmy (Debbie) Sampson, Scott Sampson, Danny Sampson, Kim (Gary) Worthen, Virginia (Sampson) Starkey, Kelly (McKay) Bahr, Connie Young, Heather (Richard) Toombs, Heidi (James) Angell, Michael Sampson (fiancé Julia James), and Angel Sampson; 37 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his sister Nancy (Paul) Millette; and his uncle Edward Sampson.

A last request of Ronald's was that you do an act of kindness for someone. These things were very important to Ronald throughout his life.