Ronald R. O’Connell, 93, passed away on April 7, 2026 in Rapid City, SD. Ron was born in New Underwood, SD, on March 6, 1933, the eldest of four children. He attended school in Rapid City before moving to Wyoming to live with his grandparents. Ron graduated from high school in Shoshoni, Wyoming in 1951 and went to the University of Wyoming, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1955. He served his country active duty in the U.S. Army and later many years in the South Dakota National Guard.

Returning to Rapid City after the military service, he married Carole Dahl. To this union were born 4 children; Jeffrey, Jill, Jan, and Jonathan. The couple later divorced. Ron married Judy Nichols in 1979 who had 2 children, Jeff and Lisa from her prior marriage.

Ron worked as a Professional Mechanical Engineer in Rapid City for many years making countless friends along the way and retired in 2000 from Dunham Associates, Inc.

In his younger years, he played many rounds of golf and also enjoyed a yearly trek to Eastern SD to pheasant hunt with the same group of friends. In later years he became active at the Canyon Lake Senior Center and volunteering at the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and local RSVP.

Ron and Judy were blessed to have 45 happy years together and took some nice trips. They had many furry friends who shared their lives, both kittys and dogs, all of them were rescue animals.

Grateful to have shared his life are his children Jeffrey of Rapid City; Jill (Jay) Tittle, Rapid City; Jan of Phoenix, AZ and Jonathan of Rapid City; Judys children Jeff (Julie) Nichols, Bozeman, MT and Lisa (Mark) Sanders, Hermosa, SD; grandchildren, great grandchildren sisters Sharon (Gary) Popp, Patti (Bruce) Rinder all of rapid City, SD, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Geneva and Jim O’Connell; his wife Judy; His In-laws, Les and Susan Goodhope; sister Barbara Keene; sister-in-law Dianne Moravec; brother in laws David Keene, William A Goodhope and Jack D Moravec.

Ron was an awesome husband, father, grandparent and friend. He will be dearly missed.

The family will be having a private service and spreading of ashes at a later date.

“And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” Revelations 22:3