Ronald Gene Chaney, 94

Sept. 28, 1928-July 15, 2023

Ron was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, surrounded by family: his brothers, Dale and Arlen; his parents, Arlie and Skileta (Scotty Welborn) Chaney; grandparents, Fred and Hattie Mae (Burns) Chaney; and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Ron attended the University of Idaho, studying business administration. He was an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

He married his high school and college sweetheart, Jeannie Sangster, in 1949. They raised their three daughters, Connie, Vicki, and Patti, in Spokane, Wash. Ron’s first careers were in the food business: buyer for U.R.M. wholesale grocery and later owner of Ron Chaney & Associates food brokerage.

In 1983, he moved back to his hometown of Sandpoint, where he met and married Rose Chronic Snedden in 1984. Ron’s second career was in real estate and land development. Ron and Rose purchased and ran Kaniksu Realty from 1985 until 1989. They developed several Bonner County projects, including River Run in Laclede, Canoe Cove in Sandpoint, and Sandy Beach on Cocolalla Lake.

Ron’s third career was that of mayor of Sandpoint. Although he excelled at his first and second careers, this job was a labor of love to him. He held the post of mayor from 1987 to 1992 and from July 1994 to January 1996. During his tenures as mayor, he was proud of many accomplishments:

Negotiated deal to move out of the old city hall into more spacious quarters that include a public safety office (the new city hall plus raises for city employees were done using no taxpayer monies);

Construction of a boat ramp at Memorial Field;

The new marina at City Beach;

A water pressure booster system on Woodland Drive;

Improved business park near the airport, constructed a business incubator, Sandpoint Unlimited, and helped in the creation of almost 3,400 new jobs;

Construction of the Third Avenue swimming pier;

Reconstruction of the city’s watershed reservoir after it was destroyed during the Schweitzer Road washout;

Helped push through the removal of 3.5 miles of Union Pacific Railroad tracks, thus eliminating 23 unprotected at-grade crossings between Dover and Sandpoint.

Ron was on the board of directors of the Central Business Association and the Festival at Sandpoint. He was a member of Sandpoint Rotary Club for 40 years.

Ron was an avid golfer and skier. He traveled extensively to Europe, the U.K., the Middle East, Egypt, Far East, New Zealand, and Australia. For more than 20 years, the Chaneys spent several months each summer cruising British Columbia and Alaskan waters, hosting children and grandchildren on their much-loved boat, the Wilidi III.

Family was everything to Ron. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rose; his daughters, Connie Church, Vicki Guello, Pat Chaney, and Mary Lou Merrill; his grandchildren, Rhonda Mohr, Brian Guello, Joseph Horsman, and Christine Horsman; his great-grandchildren, Amelia Rose Guello and Katherine Backenstoss; and his brother, Arlen Chaney; his nephew, Dale Chaney; and his nieces, Kathy Chaney and Sue Hamilton.