Ronald George Currin

Ronald (Ron) Currin, 86, longtime Heppner resident died, Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Hermiston. Ron was born in Pendleton, Oregon, to parents George and Helen Knotts Currin on May 26, 1936. He attended Pine City school on Butter Creek and later transferred to Heppner. Ron was active in school, playing football and participating in FFA.

Ron's senior year in 1954 was notable; he served as Student Body President, graduated as the salutatorian, and was awarded the FFA State Farmer degree. After high school, he attended Oregon State College (later University) for two years.

Then he returned to the family business on Butter Creek, where he lived and worked ranching and farming for the next sixty years. During those years, Ron found great success as a cattleman; he was a keen judge of livestock, a great horseman, and had a knack for developing the business by piecing together deals for cattle or property.

Ron was active in the community with Oregon Cattleman’s Association and served as Morrow County Fair Board Chairman for several years in late 60’s through the 70’s. Starting from a young age, Ron had always been interested in rodeo and participated in calf roping and steer wrestling. In 1955, while at the Ukiah Rodeo, he met his future wife, Judy Lazinka. Ron and Judy were married on February 14, 1959, and settled into family life. Ron and Judy were parents to five children, Ronald Jr., Tony, Mike, Steve, and Jennifer. The Pendleton Round-Up was his favorite event, where he was the Wild Horse Race winner in 1958 and '59. He also won the wild cow milking numerous times. In 1996, the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame inducted Ron's family; an accomplishment he was always proud of. Ron and Judy were always supportive of their children's accomplishments in rodeo. Over the course of their kid's PRCA careers, numerous championship saddles, buckles (and crowns) were collected and always on display in their Butter Creek home. Additionally, being part of the larger rodeo family, the house on Butter Creek was always open to cowboys that were traveling through the Northwest during the summer season.

Ron is survived by his wife, Judy, and brother Tom (Marlene); children Tony (Kelli), Steve (Lisanne), and Jennifer Currin-Gutridge (Shane); daughter-in-law; Rayanne Engel-Currin (Ron Jr.) and daughter-in-law Judy Jean Currin- Pederson (Michael/Curtis); grandchildren, Carter, Shayla, Kolby, Jacee, Cydney, Kallen, Riley, and Rayna.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, George and Helen, and sons, Michael and Ronald Jr.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 7, 2023 at the Gilliam and Bisbee Building in Heppner.

Memorial contributions for those who wish may be made to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, 101 Pro Rodeo Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 8091

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