Ronald Bottom 1940-2024
Ronald Dean Bottom, 84, of Creswell, Ore., passed away in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 17, 2024.
Ronald was born on May 5, 1940, in Havensville, to Lester and Dorothy Bottom. He graduated from Havensville Rural High School in 1958. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Navy and served until 1963 as a sheet metal welder.
After living in Louisiana from 1964 to 1967, Ron moved to California, where he worked at Douglas Aircraft as an aircraft inspector. It was there where he met the love of his life, Mona Strobehn. They married in September 1968, and Ron became not only a husband but also a father to Mona’s four children — and within two weeks, a grandfather. In Ron’s eyes, there were no “steps” — only family. He was affectionately known to many as “Pop.”
From 1972 to 1983, Ron and Mona returned to Kansas to live on the family farm, where they served as foster parents to 24 boys over a four-year period. They later moved back to California to be closer to family, enjoying annual trips to Big Bear where the entire family would gather for a week in a rented house. During their time in California, they built three homes together.
In 2003, they “retired” to Oregon to be closer to Mona’s sister and brother-in-law. But Ron was never one to sit still — he began working as a courtesy driver for Lithia Motors in Eugene in 2006. He will be remembered not only for his expertise and work ethic but also for his uncanny ability to fix anything, his legendary tomato-growing skills (including one that weighed 2.5 lbs) and his talent for cooking and baking, which he loved to share with his friends at work.
Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Mona. He leaves behind his children: daughter Karen Niece and her husband Tom of California; daughter Coleen Read and her husband Chris of California; and son Curtis Strobehn and his wife Starla of Oregon. He is also survived by his nieces, DeAnn Smith and her husband Mark, and Tami Corbett and her husband Craig, all of Kansas; seven grandchildren (My Pop!); 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. He shared a special bond with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathy and Gary Pierce of Oregon, considered best friends, with whom he spent many joyful hours playing cards and enjoying evenings out.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Dorothy; his sister, Roma Jean Embry; his daughter, Kathleen Strobehn; and his nephew, Timothy Embry.
Ron was laid to rest at West Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Eugene, Ore. Rest in peace.
“Love you Pop.”
“See ya, my love.”
(PAID OBITUARY)
