Ronald Wilson Terrill, 79, Belle went to be with his heavenly Father Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, at St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City after a short battle with cancer.
He was born July 7, 1944, to the late Russell and Lucille (Enloe) Terrill in Osage County.
He was united in marriage to Sharon (Durbin) Terrill Aug. 31, 1968. To this union, one daughter, Rhonda Kay (Terrill) Rodgers, was born on their first year wedding anniversary Aug. 31, 1969. Sharon preceded him in death Sept. 23, 2016. Ronnie found love again and was united in marriage to Diane Rector Oct. 24, 2020. She survives at home.
He graduated from Belle High School in 1962.
After graduation, Ronnie worked at O’Sullivan’s in Owensville and on the family farm. He attended Linn State Technical College, earning a degree in Drafting and Design. Upon graduation, Ronnie was employed with MoDOT as a draftsman designing bridges. He then worked for Howard Dahms and August Rieke in the feed store hauling feed and livestock, and on weekends, he drove a livestock truck for Clyde Elrod, hauling stock to the stockyards in East St. Louis. Ronnie later worked for the Maries County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher, then a Deputy until becoming the Treasurer for Maries County, a position he held for 20 years. After a short break he then went to work for the Maries County Road Department becoming a supervisor before retirement. He continued to work there part-time until his diagnosis. In 1980 Ronnie and Sharon also opened the local feed store, Belle Feed Mill, Inc. and started a trucking business which they ran for 17 years. In 1987, they took on a new adventure and purchased the old lumber yard building in Belle.
Ronnie loved his community and would donate or give his talents to help wherever needed. Ronnie and Sharon started the Highgate 4H Club in 1977 and were also club and project leaders. He was a proud member of the Belle Fair Board for 40 years, serving as president for 14 years; had served on the Maries County University Extension Council, also serving as president; was given the Degree of Honorary Chapter Farmer from the Belle FFA Chapter and was an active member of Crossroads Baptist Church.
Ronnie had a passion for farming and owned a Century Farm. He loved checking his cows, riding his gator around the farm with Diane and helping his neighbors. He loved watching his Westerns and soap operas, his favorites being The Tales of Wells Fargo, Gunsmoke, Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful. He also enjoyed bowling, having bowled in a league for several years.
Ronnie’s greatest love was his family, friends and his grandchildren. He was a kind, soft-hearted man who never met a stranger, and he always had a smile and hug to give and a joke or story to tell. Ronnie was a patient man who was known by fellow fair board members as the “peace maker.” He will be missed by the community, his family and all who loved him.
In addition to his parents and wife Sharon, Ronnie was preceded in death by first wife, Sharon; parents, Russell and Lucille; brother, Dean Terrill; and mother and father-in-law, Chester and Sophia Durbin.
He is survived by wife Diane Rector of the home; daughter, Rhonda Rodgers and husband Adam of Belle; step-children, Steven Rector and wife Tina of Fair Grove, Dana Koch and husband Glenn of Bland and Rachel Russell and husband Andy of Brighton; grandchildren, Nicholas Brewer and wife Allyson of Gerald, Thomas Brewer and wife Megan of DeSoto, Lynsey Miller and husband Caleb of Fair Grove, Austen Rector of North Carolina, Kelsey and Olivia Koch of Bland and Jaseton Rodgers and Marley and Vera Russell, all of Brighton; great-grandchildren, Owen and Mabel Brewer and Suttyn Miller; sister-in-law, Brenda Brokaw and husband Rick of Winfield; special “son” Wes Hafner and best friends/neighbors Herb and Melinda Barch, all of Bland; and nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Funeral Services were held Saturday, Jan. 6, at Crossroads Baptist Church with Dennis Spurgeon and Kevin Runge officiating. Interment followed in Countryside Memorial Gardens near Owensville.
Memorial contributions suggested to the family.
Arrangements entrusted to Sassmann’s Chapel in Belle.
