Ronald O Dezellem

March 3, 1937 - May 13, 2018

Ronald Oliver Dezellem passed away on May 13, 2018 with his family at his side. He was born to Oliver and Nettie Dezellem on March 1, 1937 in Bridgeport, WA. He was the youngest of four children raised on the Dyer Hill farm. Ron went to school in Mansfield, WA and Bridgeport, WA graduating from BHS in 1955. He loved sports and lettered in baseball, basketball and football while at Bridgeport High School. He attended Washington State University for one semester and then completed his machinist certificate from J M Perry in Yakima, WA. He married Patricia Shaw in 1956 and they raised four children; continuing to farm the family ranch on Dyer Hill. Ron was a mechanic through and through. He did all his own repairs on his equipment while farming. He shared that knowledge with his sons as they grew older, who then passed down this mechanical gift to his grandson and great-grandson. Ron was a pioneer in trying new things when it came to farming in Douglas County, from nitrogen injection during seeding and moving to annual cropping spring wheat. He was the first farmer in Douglas County to haul his crop to the warehouse with a semi-truck purchased in 1980. Ron had a strong work ethic that carried over to playing hard as well. Ron had a love for snowmobiles and spent many years during the 1970’s battling the “factory sleds” racing Polaris snowmobiles as an independent. He used his mechanical skills to build the snoopy trailer, a 24’ fifth-wheel trailer to haul the sleds, tools and parts to races throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ron was a generous and kind man who volunteered and supported the Bridgeport community all his life. He was a Little League coach for many years, he and Pat operated the Little League concession stand for several summers. Ron supported the local high school sports teams, often by buying new uniforms when they were needed. He sponsored the Dizzy’s Dozen men’s softball team for several years and coached the Roadrunners, a women’s softball team. Ron married Barbara Pipkin in 1986 at Coeur d’ Alene, ID. In his retirement years, Ron loved to read and was a regular member of the CJ’s coffee club where many community issues were discussed and solved each morning. Ron continuing supporting Bridgeport Athletics in his retirement attending many Fillies softball and basketball games. He recently acquired a passion for youth soccer watching great-grandson Colton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Nettie Dezellem, his son Terry Dezellem, his grandson Cody Dezellem. Ron is survived by his wife Barbara Dezellem; his children Kandace Klenz, Moses Lake; Tamara Dezellem, Wenatchee; Stuart (Raelynn) Dezellem, Bridgeport along with many much loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life potluck will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Bridgeport High School Commons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society - Bridgeport Spay and Neuter fund, 1474 S Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee WA 98801 or Mansfield High School - Scholarship Fund, Attn: Jamie Jo Steele, PO Box 188, Mansfield WA 98830.