At the age of 9 Ron started helping his grandparents Fred and Hazel Miller in their print shop in Beatrice. Ron bought Miller Printery from them in 1959 at the ripe old age of 19. Ron began printing running a 1890 Chandler and Price letterpress — that old press always had a special meaning to him. In 1960, Ron and Jean Foreman were married and Jean became a partner in the business. Their two children, Ronda and Heath, were raised in the print shop from the time they were babies — they could sleep through anything as long as the presses were running. Ron and Jean operated the business together for 48 years. Ron liked to say that when he bought the shop, he was the youngest printer in Beatrice and when he retired, he was the oldest. Jean passed away in 2010.
Ron donated the 1890 Chandler and Price press to the museum in downtown DeWitt, NE. For several years Ron demonstrated the operation of the press during the DeWitt Days celebrations.
Ron married Ruth Foster in 2012. In retirement he enjoyed traveling and playing cards with friends.
Ron’s hobby was HO scale model trains and he constructed an extravagant model railroad layout. Ron always enjoyed showing his family and friends the latest additions to his layout.
Ron was a 55-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Beatrice, Lodge 426, and a founding member of the Beatrice Area Railroad Enthusiasts.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife Jean Miller, his parents Harold and Velma Miller, his parents-in-law Bill and Irene Foreman, his brother-in-law Dave Wagner, his sister-in-law Pam Miller, and his brothers-in-law Arlin Schuerman and Roger Schuerman.
He is survived by his wife Ruth and children Ronda J Meier (Duane) of Palmer, KS, and Heath Miller (Judy) of Lincoln; stepchildren Randall (Katie) Wertz of Lincoln, Bill (Jill) Wertz of Lincoln, David (Salley) Wertz, of Lummi Island, WA, and Heather Foster (Bob) of Omaha; and brothers Preston Miller and Russell Miller, and sister Janice Miller, all of Beatrice; sister-in-law Patti Wagner, brother-in-law Ron Foreman, and sister-in-law Lois Disney. He had 5 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, at Southwood Lutheran Church, 4301 Wilderness Hills Blvd., Lincoln. Public burial following at Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, NE.
Memorials may be directed to the Beatrice Area Railroad Enthusiasts, the Beatrice Community Food Pantry, or Southwood Lutheran Church.