Ronald Eugene McKillip, 80, passed from this tlife on Wednesday April 21, 2010 at his home north of McCook, Nebraska. He was born on a cold, windy, snowy Dec. 23, 1929, at the family farm south of McCook to Nile and Opal (Kelley) McKillip.

He grew up around McCook and rode horses and sometimes climbed snowdrifts taller than fence posts to attend country schools. He graduated from McCook High, with The Class of 1947. He served in the U.S. Navy on active duty on North Island Naval Air Station until his honorable discharge in 1949, remaining in the Naval Reserve until 1955.

At that time he was hired by Burlington Northern Railroad in McCook and also Union Pacific Railroad in North Platte, Nebraska, trying to shuffle back and forth. Obviously, this didn't work very well and he remained in McCook with Burlington Northern Railroad until he purchased a farm 8 miles south of McCook in 1965. He lived there for 33 years, enjoying raising his family, breathing fresh air and raising livestock. He retired in 1998 selling his own farm and moving to an acreage he purchased north of McCook in 1992.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a kid at heart and his grandkids were the sparkle in his eye.

On Dec. 1, 1951, Ron married Dorothy Mae O'Toole in McCook. To this union three children were born, Daniel, Cinthia and Sandra. On Aug. 12, 1958, Ron married Jacqueline "Jacki" Lea Markwad. Together they had Laura and Jeffrey.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Nile and Opal; his wives, Dorothy and Jacquelin "Jacki"; his son, Daniel; infant son, Jeffrey; and by brothers, Bernard, Robert and James.

Ron was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge and Eagles. He enjoyed playing cards, watching his grandchildren grow up, driving around the countryside looking at crops and pastures and telling stories about "the hard times and the dirty 30's" (and he knew them very well).

Ron is survived by daughters, Cindy and husband, Tom Shields of McCook, Nebraska, Sandy and husband, Bill McConville of Culbertson, Nebraska, and Laura and husband, David Klaus of Newberg, Oregon; grandchildren; Sara (Eric) Eisenmenger of Kansas City, Missouri, Leah (Todd) Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jill (Brad) Lauer of Belton, Missouri, Creighton (Kindra) Shields of Las Vegas, Nevada, Allyx (Dillon) Garretson of Okinawa, Japan and Drew Shields at home in McCook; great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Natalie and Abigail Eisenmenger, Tyler, Kaden and Keegen Johnson and Aiden Lauer; sister, Marilyn (Richard) Koetter; and a host of relatives and friends.