William Ralph Cronoble

William Ralph Cronoble, age 88, passed away on June 26, 2024. He was born on April 16, 1936, to parents Jacob Ralph Cronoble and Thelma Elizabeth Cronoble in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He joined an older brother, Robert Nelson, two years his senior and was to become the middle son with the arrival of James Marvin. During the growing-up years, three endeavors were highly regarded by his parents: fly-fishing, quail hunting and Oklahoma University football.

During his senior year of high school, Emily Jean Richey transferred to Bartlesville from Long Beach, California, when her parents were relocated to Bartlesville by Phillips Petroleum Company. Bill regarded this as the single most important event of his life. Bill and Emily dated during the senior year of high school and continued dating while attending the University of Oklahoma. On Aug. 25, 1956, they were married in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In February 1958, their life changed with the addition of William Randal and, in November of 1961, Robert Ralph arrived. In 1961, Bill graduated with a master’s degree in Geology and was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company in Denver.

In 1963, at the suggestion of fellow Phillips Petroleum geologist, William W. Ballard, Balcon Oil Company was formed and located to Billings, Montana. The company operated as a partnership for 30 years, first as Balcon and then as Ballard & Cronoble. During these years, numerous oil and gas properties were developed and drilled in Montana.

Bill, in 1970, (again at the suggestion of William W. Ballard) became an Assistant Professor of Geology at Rocky Mountain College and continued at this position through 1981, teaching courses in General Geology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Carbonate Petrology and Geomorphology. Bill believed he learned more teaching classes at Rocky than by taking the classes at the college level.

The students at Rocky were intelligent, committed, hardworking and always determined and ready to catch the Prof in a mistake. Bill enjoyed teaching beyond description and also enjoyed watching the career progression of his former students.

Professional affiliations included the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Montana Geological Society and was a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming. Honorary memberships included Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Gamma Epsilon (Geology) and Sigma Xi (Science Research). Carbonate-related articles were published in the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, Oklahoma Geological Survey publications and in Montana, Oklahoma and Kansas geological society guidebooks. He served as President, of the Montana Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (1983 and 1995) and was Montana Vice-President of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States (1993 to 1994).

The Cronoble family spent many days fishing the high lakes of the Beartooth Mountains. They began fishing the high lakes when their car was the only one in the Island Lake parking area. Numerous trips to Bartlesville and Denver took the family to see relatives and again fish for species other than trout. Family trips included such stops as Disneyland, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and such ancient ruins as Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Aztec, Salmon, Pecos, Gran Quivira, Canyon de Chelly, Hovenweep, Tuzigoot and numerous other sites in the Four Corners area. The local areas were not ignored, as such places as the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Big Horn Battlefield, Red Lodge were visited on many occasions; Yellowstone and Teton National Parks as often as possible. Cooke City and Silvergate were enjoyed as bases for mountain fishing.

Bill and Emily, after the boys followed their own careers, enjoyed traveling to such places as Hawaii, St. John, New England, Victoria, Sedona, the Southwest, the Greater Yellowstone Area including Jackson and Teton Village. In later years, Coeur d’Alene became a favorite destination. No matter where they were, so long as they were together, Bill felt all was well with the universe. They enjoyed meeting people and learning how others lived in this wonderful country. Bill regarded Emily as the most important person in his world. They were totally devoted to each other for the years they were married.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Emily; his parents; and older brother, Robeert Nelson.

He is survived by sons William Randal (Una) and Robert Ralph (Chris); six grandchildren, Brian Cronoble (Yohnna), William Cronoble, Michelle McGill (Dougal) Amanda Trejo (Will), Crystal Cronoble and David Cronoble; six great-grandchildren, Justin and Phoenix Cronoble and Gabriel, Michael, Ethan and Samantha Trejo; and his younger brother, James Marvin Cronoble (Linda) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

At the request of the deceased, burial has taken place in the Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park. A graveside memorial for family will occur at a later date.

His favorite charity was the Montana Rescue Mission. Those wishing to do so may send a remembrance of Bill to the Montana Rescue Mission, P. O. Box 3232, Billings, MT 59103-3232 or to a charity of choice.