Obituary of Ronald Lane Darden
Ronald Lane Darden (55) longtime St. Maries, ID resident passed away at his home on July 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born to John “Jack” and Jeanne (Porret) Darden on August 26, 1968, in Norfolk, VA. When Ron was just an infant, his family moved to the St. Maries area. Ron grew up in St. Maries and graduated St. Maries High School with the class of 1986. During his senior year in high school, he built a 1968 Chevy pickup. It was his pride and joy, and he received enough speeding tickets he temporarily lost his license. He loved to go fast and had a need for speed.
Following high school, he attended ITT Technical Institute in Spokane, WA and earned his AS Degree in electronics. Ron married Adrienne Nipar in 1989 and the couple made their home in Spokane and had their daughter Sara. He briefly worked for UPS before working for KC Auto Paint in Spokane Valley painting pickup canopies. Looking for change, in 1993 the family relocated to Rockford, WA where son Cody was born, and Ron went to work for Dave’s Auto Body also volunteering for the local fire department. After 7 years in Rockford, the family decided in 2000 to return home to St. Maries.
Ron bought J&E Solid Waste from his parents and ran that business until retirement in 2019 when his daughter and son in-law bought the business from him. During that time, he and Adie divorced, but Ron was blessed again when he reconnected with lifelong friend Teresa Gindraux in 2016. When Ron wasn’t working, he dedicated his time and resources as a member of the Elks Lodge for 23 years. He enjoyed helping with the big dinners and fundraisers the organization put on. He specifically enjoyed the Elks Christmas baskets and found much joy in delivering the packages to the families who needed them. Aside from being a dedicated Elks member, over the years Ron was also an Eagles and Lion’s member.
An avid outdoorsmen, Ron took advantage of where he lived. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and picking huckleberries and mushrooms, passing on his passion for the outdoors down to his children. He also liked antiques, coins, and guns. Trap shooting and spending time at the family river lot made for some of his best memories. However, many memories were made when his granddaughter Vera made it into this world, and the second she was born he fell in love she had Ron wrapped around her tiny fingers.
Ron is survived by his children Sara Darden (Tyson Haynes) of St. Maries and Cody Darden of Moscow, ID; parents Jack and Jeanne Darden of St. Maries; siblings John (Lisa) Darden and Renee (Kurt) Megee all of St. Maries; granddaughter Vera Lynn Haynes of St. Maries; significant other Teresa Gindraux of St. Maries; Uncle Chuck (Shirley) Porret and Aunt Jackie Porret all of Spokane; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his grandparents.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Ron’s life will be on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Elks Lodge in St. Maries, ID. A gathering of family and friends to share a meal will follow.
