The community is mourning the unexpected loss of an enthusiastic supporter of the Sundre Pro Rodeo who was actively involved in helping the annual event grow.
Family and friends of Ron Smith, 76, who lived in Calgary but also had a second home in Sundre and spent plenty of his spare time in town, were shocked to learn he succumbed to an infection. He contracted a bug while recently visiting his daughter Shannon, son-in-law Chris Gerein — both educators — and their three children in France while the family was there as part of a teacher exchange program. They've since returned to Canada after about eight months in France, said Ron's son Scott Smith, the current past president of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association, during a phone interview with the Round Up on Tuesday, May 17.
“He wanted to see France and spend some time with them there,” he said.
“It's definitely been a shock, and we're going to miss him for sure,” Scott said, adding he was still trying to wrap his head around what happened to his father, who contracted a staph infection.
“He was a healthy man, but nobody really know how these infections come to be,” he said.
Scott, who also lives in Calgary, has been coming to Sundre for about 20 years.
“We spend all of our weekends in Sundre,” he said, adding Ron was always a rodeo fan.
“He got involved because I got involved. He was always up for a challenge and wanted to help.”
Although his job is in Calgary, as was his father's, Scott said they always looked forward to wrapping up work at the end of the week so they could come out to Sundre for a couple of days.
“That's how it's been for the family for years,” he said.
Scott described his father as a good businessman who worked hard and believed in giving back to the community through volunteerism and service work. Ron was a member of the Rotary Club of Calgary and volunteered a lot in the city as well, he said.
But because Sundre means so much to the family, Ron also volunteered with the rodeo association and strove to promote the event to help it grow as much as possible, he said.
“He believed in giving back to the community — that's always kind of been one of his main objectives in life.”
However, there was far more to Ron than his volunteer work. He was obviously a father, but also a friend and mentor, said Scott.
“I look at the way he conducted himself,” he said, adding his father was “always about integrity and honesty and wanting to do the right thing.”
As a realtor, Ron was focused on ensuring any business deal he was involved with was to the betterment of both parties, he said.
“He believed in deals that made sense for both parties. He carried that throughout his life, whether he was volunteering or working on different events for the Rotary Club in Calgary or the rodeo committee (in Sundre). That's one of the more important things I learned from him growing up.”
Ron's virtues regarding honesty and integrity are probably the two most important qualities that he instilled in his three children — his two daughters Shannon and Tara as well as himself, said Scott, adding he also learned from his father to go through life treating people fairly and with respect, and to always try to do the right thing.
Aside from Ron's contributions to the rodeo, Scott also pointed out the work his father contributed to the development of the Brookside subdivision near the new Mountain View Seniors' Housing facility.
Ron had been involved with the local rodeo association for about 10 years. He always got excited about the BS Bingo and enjoyed getting out in the community to sell squares for the event while sharing some laughs along the way, said Scott.
“He just wanted to see the rodeo succeed and become bigger and better. He knew the importance of the rodeo for the community,” he said, adding the event brings in many people from out of town who in turn shop at local businesses, providing a significant economic boost for Sundre.
While coming out to enjoy what Sundre has to offer is undoubtedly pleasant, being able to give something back to make the community even better is also rewarding, he said.
“He was a big-picture thinker,” said Scott, adding his father also believed that the rodeo is an ideal way to introduce Sundre to people who have not yet visited town, potentially leading to their returning to enjoy the community “as much as we have as a family.”
The current president of the rodeo association, Shane Crouch, also shared some of his thoughts about Ron.
“He was a very diligent man who really cared about our rodeo and wanted to see it succeed,” he said.
“He was a very integral part of our advertising.”
Crouch described Ron as an easy to talk to, down-to-earth, professional individual who was “just an all-around great guy.”
Ron played a crucial role in helping the rodeo to grow, he added.
“I can't thank him enough. He's going to be missed beyond words.”
Ron's memorial service was held in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18. He was predeceased by his wife Helen, and leaves behind his three children and three grandchildren.
“His heart was in Sundre,” said Scott, who has every intention of remaining involved in this community.
“Our plans will still be to continue to call Sundre our second home — I'm sure he would want nothing less than that.”
