Ronald L. Gillaspie

Ronald L. Gillaspie was born June 22, 1946, at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota, the son of John and Avis (Schilling) Gillaspie.

He grew up in the Ottumwa and Midland areas and graduated from Midland High School in 1964.

As a young man, he worked as a mechanic in the Murdo area.

Ronald served in the U.S. Navy from January 1966 until his discharge in 1970.  He served three tours of duty in Vietnam aboard the Bon Homme Richard, an aircraft carrier.  After his discharge, he returned to the Midland community where he worked as an over the road truck driver for many years.  He worked in the oil fields of Wyoming and North Dakota and later ran a plumbing business in Midland.  He served as a state plumbing inspector for one year.

In 1989, he began working for Gilbert Construction Company, a subsidiary of Peter Kiewit Company.  They did road construction in Nebraska, Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma.  He retired as a foreman for the company in September 1999 because of failing health.

Ronald was a member of St. William's Catholic Church of Midland and was a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion Post #143 of Midland.

Grateful for having shared his life are his son, Joe Gillaspie of Troy, Alabama; his parents, John and Avis Gillaspie of Midland; five brothers, John L. Gillaspie of Hot Springs; Conrad Gillaspie of Midland; Ken Gillaspie of Blunt, South Dakota; James Gillaspie of Ft. Pierre; Rocky Gillaspie of Midland; four sisters, Evie Abrahamson of Bowman, North Dakota; Marilyn Gillaspie of Ft. Pierre; Mary G. Schofield of Midland; Delores Suminski of Ord, Nebraska; seven nephews; six nieces; four great nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Ronald was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; one sister and one brother in infancy.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be established to a college fund for his son, Joe Gillaspie.

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, October 11, 1999
10:00 a.m.
St. William's Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Arnold Kari

Con-Celebrant
Father Dale Kutil

Music
Judy Fosheim - Organist
Barb Jones - Vocalist

Ushers
Carl Suminski - Doug Abrahamson
Vincent Schofield - Norace Olson

Pallbearers
Jay Gillaspie - Daniel Gillaspie
Johnny Gillaspie - Timmy Gillaspie
Cody Gillaspie - Michael Schofield - Aaron Olson

Honorary Pallbearers
Graduating Class of 1964
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota

Service Details

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, October 11, 1999
10:00 a.m.
St. William's Catholic Church in Midland