Word was received here this week of the death of former Saratoga and Encampment resident Ronald Arnold Perue who passed away Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in a Spokane, Washshington hospital.
Ron was born Sept. 2, 1939 in Laramie, the third son of R. A. (Bob) and Elizabeth (Edington) Perue and grew up on the Pick Ranch and in Saratoga, attending school here. He graduated from Platte Valley High School with the class of 1957. He was class president and a member of the wrestling team, where he and Gary Maki were Saratoga’s first state mat champions in 1956. He was also state champ and captain of the 1957 All Class Wyoming State Champion wrestling team.
Following graduation he enlisted in the Navy, serving three years on active duty, mostly in the Mediterranean, and three years in the Naval Reserve.
Upon his return from the service he attended the University of Wyoming for two years and was a member of the wrestling team. After receiving an associate degree in drafting from Salt Lake Trade Tech Institute in Salt Lake City, he returned to Wyoming and worked for the Wyoming Highway Department.
Ron was married to Frances Wenger in Laramie on Nov. 5, 1961.
He launched a career as a purchasing and project engineer for several different firms, including working on the BART tunnel running under the bay from San Francisco to Oakland, Calif., and co-founded Underground Constructors, Inc., with one of their first jobs being utility system work for the new subway system under Washington, D.C. Additional projects included “putting the fiber-optics lines clear across Texas,” pipeline work in California and Hawaii, and supervising one of California’s largest irrigation projects.
Retiring more than a dozen years ago, to “play golf, enjoy life and family” he and Fran lived for a time in California before purchasing a summer home in Encampment and a residence in Dammeron Valley, Utah, near St. George. Facing failing health, the couple recently moved to Pullman, Washington to be near family.
Survivors include his widow, Frances, of Pullman; two daughters, Pam (John) Otterson of Orland, California, Theresa (Rob) Kwate of Troy, Idaho, one son Robert (Jennifer) Perue of Lee Summit, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Nichole Otterson and Whitney Otterson Drake, Sarah and Lindsey Kwate, and Logan, Jessica and Elijah Perue; a great grandchild, Bentley Drake; three brothers, Dick (Marty) and John (Linda) of Saratoga and Jim (June) of Port Charlotte, Florida; an aunt Elizabeth Anderson of Arizona; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, plus Encampment’s famous dog “Stupa”.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Norm Perue, and two sisters, Pam Perue and Patty Allred.
His remains will be returned to Saratoga for a private family graveside service in the Saratoga Cemetery Friday morning at 11 a.m.
Plans are being made for a celebration of life to take place in the Valley next summer around the Fourth of July during which time friends and family will be invited to share memories and honor Ron.
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