Ronald "Ron" Dee Vanderholm
Ronald "Ron" Dee Vanderholm, 44, Moses Lake resident, passed away suddenly December 15, 2005 during basketball practice at Royal City High School. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at the Moses Lake Stake Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1515 S. Division with Bishop Daniel Hope conducting. Committal services will follow at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, December 22, 2005 at Elk Cemetery, Elk, Washington. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday beginning at 9:00 AM. Family will greet friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.
Ron was born May 3, 1961 in Spokane, Washington to Donald C. and Carol Dee (Steele) Vanderholm of Elk. He was raised in Elk and attended schools in the Riverside School District, graduating from Riverside High School in 1979. While growing up he was always very involved in sports, especially football and basketball. After high school he worked in the area for a year before serving his two-year mission with the LDS Church in Tokyo, Japan. Upon his return he enrolled at Spokane Community College for two years. He then transferred to Eastern Washington University where he earned his BA degree in International Affairs, graduating in 1994. He was married to Harumi Oka on November 11, 1983 at the Bellevue, Washington LDS Temple. They lived in Elk, Spokane and Cheney while Ron was attended EWU.
Ron returned to EWU in 1995 and in 1997 completed his Master's Degree in Education. In the fall of 1997 he was hired as a teacher at Royal City High School and they moved to Moses Lake shortly afterwards. He had taught social studies and history since and was the freshman boys basketball coach and cross country and track coach as well. He was loved by all at the school and was a favorite teacher and coach to many. Ron loved to go to the Oregon coast and enjoy the ocean and to Seattle where he loved to spend time at Pike's Place Market. He also loved his Play Station 2.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While growing up a member of the Riverside Ward where he was the Elders Quorum President and in Moses Lake a member of the Second Ward where he was the assistant to the High Priest Group Leader. He was a member of the Washington Education Association and the Royal Education Association.
He is survived by his loving wife, Harumi of Moses Lake; son, Jerami Vanderholm, serving his mission in Japan; daughter, Alisha Vanderholm, Moses Lake; parents, Donald and Carol Vanderholm, Elk; four brothers, Gary Vanderholm, Dennis Vanderholm, David Vanderholm and Donnie Vanderholm all of Elk; three sisters, Cheryl Wenzel, Cedar Grove, WI, Karen Vanderholm, Elk and Sharon Vanderholm, Elk; and he was a favorite uncle to thirty-nine nieces and nephews.
Maternal grandparents, Oliver and Zella Steele and paternal grandparents, Carl and Reta Vanderholm, preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund, c/o Bishop Daniel Hope, 7620 Bertram Way, N.E., Moses Lake, WA 98837.