Ronald Keith Gilham

, of Harlem, MT, passed away on November 29, 2024, surrounded by family after a long and valiant battle with cancer.

A service was held at 1:00 pm Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Harlem High School Little Gym with burial following at the City of Harlem Cemetery.

Ron was born July 26, 1955, in Browning, Montana, to Dan and Jewel Gilham, the fifth of eleven children. Due to his father's employment with the BIA, Ron lived in many Montana towns growing up and in Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada, before eventually moving back to Montana and graduating from Poplar High School in 1973. While attending Poplar, Ron earned all-conference honors for both football and basketball. After graduation, Ron earned athletic scholarships to Glendive and Rocky College for football and basketball.

Ron moved back to Harlem to stay with his sister Bobbi and her husband, Gail and began working for the City of Harlem as a patrolman. During this time, Ron met his future wife, Janice, marrying her in January 1976. They started their family, welcoming their daughter, Kristi. Soon after her birth, Ron began working for a construction/plumbing crew out of Havre. This jumpstarted his lifelong career in the construction and plumbing trades. He worked for various companies until finally starting his own residential and commercial plumbing business. During this time, Ron and Janice welcomed two more children, a daughter, Rhawnee, and a son, Kameron. Ron continued his business, working mainly in Browning and Ft. Belknap, until he was in his retirement years. Ron then began managing Kennedy's Bar in Harlem, which he continued to do up until recently.

Anyone who knew Ron knew his life-long love of sports. After college, he continued to play sports including independent basketball and softball leagues, where he earned many all-star accolades. He and his team members were amazing to watch! He coached several girls and boys high school basketball teams in Browning, Heart Butte, and Harlem. He also coached the ANC boys and girls teams. He was an avid Chicago Cubs, Duke Blue Devils, and Denver Broncos fan. When any games were on TV, you knew better than to touch his "clicker." Ron could tell you any sports trivia you wanted to know (or didn't want to know!). One of his favorite memories was when his sister Paula and husband, Jerry, invited Ron to Arizona, along with his brothers and good friend Pete Haluszka, where they watched the Final Four, an MLB baseball game, and an NHL hockey game all in one whirlwind trip.

The competition didn't end with sports. Ron loved anything that he could win. Many hours were spent playing board games, cards, horseshoes, dice, and dominoes. Ron enjoyed smack-talking and hated to lose. This fighting, competitive spirit carried over into his battle with melanoma, which Ron fiercely and courageously fought for over 5 years.

Ron lived in many places growing up, and this, along with his large family, gave him the innate ability to speak with anyone. Ron had an awesome sense of humor, and this skill rewarded him with many life-long friendships. His children often hesitated to go anywhere with him because, inevitably, they would be stuck visiting someone for several hours! Ron was also incredibly generous to his friends - he would literally give someone the Carhartt off his back! In his later years, Ron valued his time spent socializing with his morning coffee crew which he called "The Kennedy's Board of Directors." This crew meant so much to Ron - they gave him a reason to get up in the morning and took his mind off his fight.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Janice (Mummey) Gilham; his children, Kristi Gilham Syvertson, Rhawnee (Steven) Hopkins, and Kameron (Bryar) Gilham all of Harlem. Ron was so excited to welcome his first grandbaby, Hazel, this year; she brought him extra light, and added fighting spirit to his life. Additionally, Ron is survived by his adopted son, James Campbell of Ft. Belknap, and special nephew, Rob Adams, who he loved as a son. Ron is also survived by his sisters Paula (Jerry) Slyker of Kalispell, Stacey (Mark) Keller of Meriweather, and Shonnie Gilham of Browning; brothers Greg (Les) Gilham and Clarence (Kathy) Gilham, both of Browning. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Tony Babcock of East Glacier, Gail Adams of Ft. Belknap, Ron (Liz) Mummey of Boise, ID, and sister-in-law Jacquie Gilham of Helena. Ron was pre-deceased by his parents, Dan and Jewel; his sisters Elaine Clayborn, Roberta "Bobbi" Adams, Linda Gilham Babcock, and Colleen Gilham; brother Daniel "Danny" Gilham Jr.; and son-in-law Shane Syvertson.

Memorial donations can be made to the Melanoma Foundation.