Ronald D. “Ron” Hauck, 68, Richardton, died Monday, December, 28, 2009 at his home. Ron’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Richardton with Fr. Boniface Muggli, OSB as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery with military honors provided by the Richardton American Legion Theo. R. Zech Post 180. Visitation will be on Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the church. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ron was born on July 2, 1941 at the AX Ranch in Richardton, Ron was the son of Alex J. Hauck and Hildegard Huthmacher. He attended school in Richardton and graduated from The Assumption Abbey in 1959. He was fortunate enough to celebrate his 50 year class reunion with his classmates this summer. He proudly served in the Army from May 29, 1959 to January 2, 1961.

Ron met the love of his life, Janet Hagen, while working in Noonan on a road construction project paving the road to Canada. Janet and Ron married on February 11, 1961 and moved to Hermosa, S.D., where they worked on a horse ranch. They traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., on military duty, and later moved to Dickinson. This was prior to them permanently settling in Richardton in 1963, after purchasing the Ranger Café. Janet and “Ranger Ron” owned and operated the restaurant until 1977, when they purchased the family ranch north of Richardton. The AX ranch was Ron’s passion in life, but during this time he also worked in the oil field. He worked the ranch with great pride and cherished the accomplishments great and small. He was an avid hunter and proudly displayed numerous trophies throughout his home. Montana, Alaska, Canada and North Dakota were his favorite places to hunt. Ron carried a pilots license and enjoyed flying his own plane to crop dust and sight see. He looked forward to driving the loop between Buffalo, Wyo. and West Yellowstone Mont., to visit his grandkids, where he learned his latest hobby of fly fishing. Ron was very active with his grandkids in Richardton, attending all of their sports activities and teaching them his knowledge of the world. His family looked forward to gatherings at “Jacob’s Wheel” a masterpiece created by Ron, along with grandkids, out of his grandfather Jacob’s steel tractor wheel. Many a good time was had and many legends were told and passed down to the next of kin around the fire. Cowboy coffee will be missed by all…and a shot glass will remain full ….Ron was very active in his community where he was a member of the Richardton Saddle Club, Stark County Weed Board, Stark County Zoning Board, American Legion Club, a lifetime member of the NRA, a member of the United States Marshalls Posse, and most currently President of the Richardton Rural Fire Department.

Ron is survived by his four children, Sheri (Mark) Aman, Richardton, Debby (Robbie) Hermanson West Yellowstone, Roger Hauck, Buffalo, and Darin (Heidi) Hauck, West Yellowstone; brother and sisters, Elaine (Ernest) Tormaschy, Gladstone, Jim Hauck, Richardton, Mel Hauck, Apopka, Fla., Della Schwab, Hillsboro, Ore., Mary (Terry) Bertsch, Williston and Chuck (Nancy) Hauck, Yukon, Okla.; and eight grandchildren, Brandon Aman, Dickinson, Dustin Aman, Ashlynn Aman, Fargo, Jesse Hermanson, Janaé Hermanson and Mac Hauck all of West Yellowstone, Heidi Hauck and Randy Hauck of Buffalo. He is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Janet on March 26, 2000.