Lucille Rose Marie Heiss Ronning, age 87, of Miles City passed away on November 5, 2023 in Miles City.
Lucille was born on January 3, 1936 to Arthur Floyd Heiss and Dorthea K. Karch Heiss in Miles City, Montana. She spent her first 13 years living on a farm at Rock Springs for 10 years and then moved to the Yellowstone Valley for three years. While at Rock Springs, she attended country school through the 3rd grade then they moved the school and it was to far to go so mom and the kids moved to town for school during the week and home on weekends. After two years, dad decided this was enough and he gave up farming and moved to Yellowstone Valley where they worked. In 1949, they moved to town after Lucille graduated 8th grade. She started high school that fall where she was in band, chorus, twirlers, FHA and GAA. She graduated May 1953 with a scholarship to Miles Community Junior College. Junior college was held in high school so she took part in high school band, Junior College Chorus and Girls Club.
Lucille went to work at Woolworths after graduation and worked part-time through her junior college year, this helped pay for school. She worked at Woolworths three years and 8 months as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell. She married Jackson Grant on December 14, 1956. Their son Bill was born in September of 1957. In 1958 she moved to Alaska to be with Jack, they left Miles City on Palm Sunday and drove the Alkan Highway and got to Anchorage on Easter Sunday. While there, Alaska was noted a state, and they took part in the celebration July 1 to July 4th. In 1959, they moved to North Carolina to be near Jacks sick father. She moved back to Miles City in 1960, divorced in 1961 and married Pete Ronning. In the fall they bought a house at 401 Missouri and lived there till her death. In 1962 her son Curtis Allan was born, he joined Pete’s 7-year-old daughter Jan and Lucille’s son Bill who was 5.
Lucille worked at many stores and restaurants. She cooked at the Elks on Fridays from 1995 – 2020. She was an Elk Post Exalted Ruler 2-13-14, Officer of the year 2012-2013. She spent many hours working for Elks. She was active in Degree of Honor since 1953, held all local and state offices, was president of stat 4 years. She also held National offices. In 2009 the Miles City lady who was to conduct the National Convention died and Lucille received the call to take her place and conduct the meetings. Lucille did the job and she was the only one who was able to conduct the meetings and finish early, the National President was in shock. She won Volunteer of the years for Degree of Honor in 2005. Lucille was active in Drove of Does working her way through local and state offices. She was Doe of the year in 1995. She was active in many groups as a youth in 4-H and in 1956 was elected first alternate to National meeting in Chicago for Leadership received a 4-H watch, 4-H leader Sunday school and bible school teacher, Ground Observer Corp, Jr. Degree of Honor Local and State Director, VAVS Volunteer 1953-2020, Volunteer of year 2011, General Miles City Club, High Plains car club since 1985, Eastern MT Fiddlers Club, Singles Club, Red Hat Society, Homemakers Club, Senior Center where she was President. She housed foreign students for high school and junior college, they came from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India and Ecuador. She also had a daycare for 8 years.
Lucille was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, her parents, both brothers, in-laws, husband Pete, son Curtis, three uncles and five aunts on dads side. Lucille is survived by her son Bill and family, stepdaughter Jan and family, grandsons: Beau, Drew and Ryan, two great Granddaughters, seven great grandsons, special friends, Mike, Kim and Cheryl Grenz, daughter in law Toni and numerous cousins and friends.
Services will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Mile City. Lucille will be laid to rest privately with her husband Pete at the Eastern Montana Veterans Cemetery in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday November 17, 2023
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday November 17, 2023
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
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ELVERA HAGLOF NEUHARDT AND FAMILY says
OUR THOUGHTS AND SYMPATHY GO TO YOUR FAMILY==AS FAR AS THE ROCK SPRINGS DAYS===
Deb Hanley Hagemeister says
Jan and families. So sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Sheila Rickett says
My heart goes out to the family. She went to school with my mom. I worked with her at Kmart for years. I was her Avon lady for years. She will be missed. She is in a better place.
Marc and Denise Hartse says
Our sympathies and condolences to the family. Lucille used the babysit me when I was a small child, we always had that bond. Denise knew her too. We were saddened to hear about this.
Bill and Rita FitzGerald says
LucyBelle—Bill will miss giving her a hard time. Lucy was a model for all. She was always involved in the community.
The old “Hell Creek” crowd will tell lots of stories.
Thinking of all of Lucy’s family—Bill and Rita Fitz
Mark says
Saddened by the news, my sympathy and condolences to the Ronning family, Lucille will be missed , especially by us at the car shows, and the community for all she has done for so many years, prayers to the family.
Mark says
Saddened by the news, my sympathy to the Ronning family, Lucille will be missed , especially by us at the car shows, and the community for all she has done for so many years, prayers to the family.
Paula Arion says
Lucille used to call bingo at the Elks. The meals they let her cook were fun. She will be missed.
Wanda Bankey says
So sorry for our loss. Knew the family from years of being Degree of Honor members. She was down the hill at Hell Creek from Uncle Sam and Auntie Jo. She told some fun stories.
Cynthia Gregg-Hope says
Sad to hear this. Thinking of the rest of the family.
Lance & Chris Gierke says
To the Ronning family,
So sorry for your loss, sending our thoughts & prayers to your family.
Stabler Hazel says
To the family of Lucille. So sorry for your loss. Lucille has been a neighbor for over 60 years.
Melody and Steve Reinhart says
To Lucy’s family, she will be missed and was a special soul! Prayers for all of you.
Joe and Lynn Rogers says
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Ronning Family. “Grandma Ronning” was very much a part of our lives in so many ways!!…..Sending hugs to you all!
Stephanie Kuchynka says
Lucille was such a civic minded lady. Her dedication to the Custer County Food Bank resulted in thousands of pounds of donated food and generous grants through the Elk’s Foundation at her urging. Lucille knew how to get things done! Thoughts to Lucille’s family during this sad time. She will be missed.
Alex Zander says
So sorry for your loss.
Agnes Drane says
So sorry for your loss…she will be greatly missed.
Dolores Meidinger Willson says
Bill, Donna and all the Ronning family, my sincere sympathy goes your way. Miles City will miss a very dedicated citizen and community volunteer.