Ronald Eugene Bame
It is with great sadness to announce that we have lost Ron after a three-year battle with cancer on June 10, 2018.
Ronald Eugene Bame was an amazing father, grandfather, brother, husband, and friend. All who knew Ron would remark that he was someone you did not forget. He commanded a room; with strong opinions, funny jokes, and a zest for life. He was the guy you wanted around as he could fix anything and help anyone. He was a teacher and a confidante, an avid reader, and quick study of people.
Ron was born to William and Marie Bame in upstate New York on September 30, 1939. His father, Bill, was a mechanical engineer and moved the family around the Midwest including stints in Detroit and Niagara Falls. Even-tually the family settled in Weth-ersfield, Connecticut, in 1950 where he and his brother Raymond grew up and Ron developed his passion for mechanics, pranks, fast cars, and loud guns. He frequently told stories of drag racing or shooting BB guns with his brother Ray.
After graduating high school in 1957, Ron enlisted in the Army. He was sent to Germany where he served in the 3rd Helicopter and Armored Division. He spoke fondly of his time there and returned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he was honorable discharged in 1964. There he purchased a 1955 Oldsmobile and headed west to California.
He landed in Los Angeles but eventually worked his way north to sunny Mountain View, California. There he met his future wife, Grete Wilhelmsen, a Norwegian flight attendant. Grete was a beauty with quick wit and shared a similar appetite for adventure. The two hit if off, and soon married in the summer of 1968.
In 1971 they moved to Los Altos, Calif., where Ron began a 20-year career as mortgage broker for Great Western Bank in Palo Alto.
After the birth of two daughters, they eventually settled in Los Altos Hills.
He frequently brought his daughters to work, and taught them at the young age to always have good credit, how to file loan applications, and how to make funny copies on the copy maker. He would distribute these to all his friends and family on a regular basis, as he loved a good laugh.
His family remembers many days traveling to Hawaii and Tahoe, camping in the Sierras in their orange VW van, shooting guns, and driving around in his vintage Porsche. He loved cars and taught his girls early how to drive a stick shift and change their own oil.
After his daughters moved away from home, Ron and Grete retired to Sandpoint Idaho in 1995. There he was able to play on his 20-acre ranch with horses, guns, and tractors.
He was a longtime member of the Single Action Shooting Society and would play cowboy with his buddies in Idaho, where he earned the nickname Stretch due to his 6-foot, 2-inch frame and long legs.
He loved Idaho and would entertain himself in his workshop, making chaps and bullets, driving or riding around the ranch, and spending time with Grete on his boat on Lake Pend Oreille.
Ron is survived by his wife of 50 years, Grete; his daughters, Kirsti Davis and Nina Leschinsky; his sons-in-law, Chad Davis and Chris Leschinsky; and grandchildren Taylor,16, Jake,12, Shane Rio, 12, and Aksel, 7, Leschinsky. He is also survived by his brother, Ray Bame
Ron will be greatly missed and we wish him peace.
His family will be having a private celebration of life in September in Sandpoint, Idaho.