I knew Ron when, as a seminarian, he taught classes for our two week summer school at the Immaculate Conception Church in Colville Washington for a few years before he was ordained. He was much loved by all the children attending.
I attended his ordination at Lady of Lourdes in Spokane.
Father Schenk, as we called him, was very kind to my husband (also a Ron), recognizing that he was a pretty troubled and sad young boy. He taught Ron how to fly fish in a local creek and once strode out into the current in his cassock to grab Ron out of the water.
My Ron spoke of him many times over the years as we both remembered Father Schenk as someone special to us in those few years of our childhood.
In 2003, when Ron was dying, I managed to find Father Schenk, then living in Hermiston, Oregon. We lived in central Washington, and Ron drove from Hermiston to visit him. My Ron was so happy to see him and so was I.
Sending heartfelt condolences to his son and family.
Joanne Delles
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