RATHBUN,
Ronald A.
Ronald Alan Wesley Rathbun of Moscow died Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Good Samaritan Village losing a short but courageous battle with cancer. He was 70.
Ron was born February 17, 1940 in Moscow to Fred and Edith Weaver Rathbun. He graduated from Moscow
High School in 1958 then attended an electrical college in Chicago, IL. He returned to Moscow and worked at David's Department Store for a time before beginning his printing career, both at Western Printing and the Daily News and later the University of Idaho library, retiring in 2001.
He married Doris Hartung and together had three children, Wes, Dina and Barb. They divorced in 1981. Ron always loved to dance, especially square dancing. It was at one of those dances that he met Kathleen Sorenson Klimko. Ron and Kathy were married in Moscow on July 15, 1983. Together they raised many dogs that were like children to them. Ron also enjoyed photography, taking pictures of his family, nature and wildlife. He was a true artist in the way he could take an ordinary photo and through different developing processes and computer editing, turn it into an original work of art.
Ron and Kathy loved to garden and can their own vegetables. Ron would use organic and home grown foods to create his own recipes and they won many awards at the Latah County Fair for their food creations.
After mastering square dancing, Ron decided he and Kathy would teach Round and Square Dancing. Here he met many of his closest friends. Ron even encouraged his family to dance and taught his step-children, Ben and Julie to dance. Julie went on to teach with her mother and Ron because he made it fun and easy. Ron belonged to many dance groups including the Palouse Promenaders, The Twin City Twirlers, The Hits and Misses and the River City Steppers. He cued for many other clubs in the quad-cities and greater Spokane area. Ron moved to Otis Orchards to be closer to many of the more active dance clubs. He continued to dance with his wife until four weeks before he passed away.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Gerald Rathbun and Fred Rathbun, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Kathleen S. Rathbun of Moscow, his children, Wes Rathbun of Philadelphia, PA, Dina Rathbun and her husband Tom of Yam Hill, OR, and Barb Rathbun of Moscow. His stepchildren, Karl, Chris, Julie and Ben Klimko, his grandchildren, Brandi, Tarin, Ty, Rory and Dorian Klimko Hix and his great- grandchildren, Vanessa and T.J.
A celebration of Ron's life will be held at Short's Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 1:30 PM. A reception will be provided by the Palouse Promenaders following.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Humane Society of the Palouse, 2019 White Ave., Moscow, ID 83843 or to the Cancer Care NW Foundation, in memory of Ron Rathbun, 605 E. Holland, Spokane, WA 99218.
Arrangements have been entrusted to SHORT'S FUNERAL CHAPEL, MOSCOW, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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