R.A. "Ribs" Mikelson

R.A. “Ribs” Mikelson, beloved husband and uncle, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 27, 2023 after a short illness.  He was faithful, dependable, and calm-mannered.  You would often see him smile and hear a little chuckle.  He had a love for the mountains in Montana and Wyoming, and he will be remembered for his gentle and patient love for his wife Irenne, taking care of her after she received a head injury as a result of an accident.

Reuben Alden (Ribs) Mikelson was born in New England, North Dakota on November 6, 1927 to Selma (Olsen) and Rev. Martin John Mikelson.  He was the youngest of 5 children and joined Prunella (Peggy), Rudella Magdalene (Mickey), Paul Marcus, and John Benjamin. Ribs moved with his family from Clarkville, Minnesota to Ringling, Montana when his dad pastored at the Lutheran church.  He attended school in Martinsdale and Ringling until the school closed. He stayed with family friends in Bozeman in order to continue high school.  Ribs enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17, and there he completed his high school credits so he could graduate with his class from Bozeman.

His first part-time job was a paper route in Martinsdale, Montana back when there were no sidewalks. He started out walking, and then earned enough money to buy a bicycle. He later worked for a neighboring ranch herding cows and putting up hay. He ran a team of horses pulling a buck rake, and later a horse-drawn baler for most of his summers.

While in the U.S. Navy Ribs served with the HedRon Fleet Air Wing Four stationed in Whidbey Island in Washington, He was discharged when the war ended and earned American Area Ribbon and a Victory Medal WW2. He later attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota for 3 years, studying architecture and then went back to Billings and attended Eastern Montana College. He also attended Billings Business College and LaSalle Law Extension School.  In 1948 he married Irenne Kwassheim, and they were nearly inseparable, married for almost 75 years, holding hands to the very end.

Ribs was a deputy clerk and recorder for Yellowstone County until he started building houses, overseeing construction on his own house on Burlington Avenue, and employing his father-in-law Einar Kwassheim and some of his friends. Ribs designed and built several upscale homes, drawing all his own plans. He then purchased a piece of excess land from Rocky Mountain College that he developed and built into the subdivision known as Gregory Hills. Ribs’s designs and architectural style became a desired favorite of many.  Ribs continued to build large upscale homes and then designed and built Highland Shadows condominiums. When the building slowed, he began to chase the development dream into the Beartooth Mountains and started acquiring ranches that he would subdivide into smaller ranchettes.  Ribs developed Cathedral Mountain Ranch near Nye, Montana, Shane Creek Ranch, and Hawk Valley Ranch south of Columbus.  Ribs’s development extended south to Wyoming where he developed Cody’s Country near Wapiti, Wyoming.  Some referred to him as “the man who bought a mountain”.  In all these endeavors he was an environmentalist and conservationist when it came to preserving landscape and water quality.  Earning his pilot’s license, he flew his own plane and was listed in Who’s Who in Finance and Industry in 1985-1986.  Ribs spent most of his weekends at his cabin on Nitche Road south of Absarokee making many wonderful memories, hosting get-togethers with church friends and having family barbecues.

He helped start the Lutheran Brethren Church, which met in the YWCA and sang as part of a men's quartet.  Ribs later became a member of Faith Evangelical Church, where he helped oversee construction at Beartooth Christian Ranch.  He attended a weekly men’s prayer group, where he developed lifelong friendships. He loved traveling and eventually bought a condo in Hawaii, where he and Irenne would spend the majority of the winter.  He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, packing trips, sightseeing, eating out, and spending time with family.  He also loved all animals, dogs (especially Cubby),  horses, and of course his 5 llamas.

Ribs never retired, and with the help of his sister-in-law Harriett, his niece Tami, his secretary Liv, and caregivers Gail, Lisa, Carly, Sam, Jimmy Sue, and Tacie, he was able to remain living in his home conducting business until his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, sisters, and sister-in-law Harriett Hudson. He leaves behind his wife Irenne, niece Tami Hawkins (Tim), nephew Todd (Tanya), and numerous other nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.  Gravesite services will be Friday, July 21, 2023 at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Montana at 10:00 AM.

A memorial service celebrating both Ribs and Irenne’s life will be held Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Faith Evangelical Church, 3145 Sweet Water Drive, Billings, Montana.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or Faith Evangelical Church.