Obituary: Ron Frost

Ronald Gene Frost, 79, Great Falls, Mont., passed away on Sept. 11, 2019 from heart failure. Funeral services were held Sept. 16 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Mont.

He was born Nov. 20, 1939 in Hamilton, Mont. He graduated from Corvallis High School in 1958 and in 1964 graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Rocky Mountain College in Billings. He began his teaching and coaching career in Augusta, Mont., teaching biology and coaching basketball for two years before moving to Great Falls where he taught health at C.M. Russell High School. In 1972 he completed his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Montana. He coached track all 33 years, and as head track and field coach the 18 years before he retired in 1999. He specialized in coaching the jumping events with pole vaulting being his favorite.

He served his country as a training specialist in the Montana Air National Guard from 1965 until 1971. In 1981, he was awarded the Montana Coaches Association Track and Field Coach of the year. Ron, however, was more proud of all CMR’s athletes who won multiple individual state titles under his instruction.

Ron married the love of his life, Joy LouAnn Stensby on June 25, 1966 at Grandfield Lutheran Church rural Sheyenne. She survives him along with their three children; Tasha Frost Johnson and son-in-law Tim Hodel, Libby, Mont; Tonya Frost and son-in-law Tony Padilla, Tigard, Ore. and Tyson and daughter-in-law Talara of Spokane, Wash. Ron is also survived by his brother Wyatt Frost, Great Falls and sister Linda (Jim) Murch, Harlem, Mont., nine grandchildren, two sisters-in-laws, Clarice Stensby Steen (Paul) of Oxnard, Calif. and Iris Stensby Kubler (Fred) of Richmond, Wash., and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their families.