Ron was born in Campbell, Nebraska, to Ilef Jr. and Melba (Turner) Vance on January 5, 1946. He grew up on a farm 3.5 miles west of Bladen, Nebraska, where they raised Angus cattle and chickens and grew wheat, soybeans, and corn. Ron was baptized and confirmed at Bladen United Methodist Church. He was active in 4-H for many years and showed championship Angus cattle at the Webster county fair. During high school Ron participated in track and was proud to have participated on a relay team in the state track meet. He graduated from Bladen High School in 1964 and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with degrees in Animal Science and Ag Economics in 1968. Ron used his studies to help his father adapt farming operations and improve production. Following graduation Ron began his life-long career with the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands & Funds (BELF).
In 1966 Ron met Kendra (Schepers) during his sophomore year of college. They were married in Shelton, NE, on June 15, 1969 and moved to Oshkosh, NE. Ron served as a fieldman in the McCook and Ogallala areas and worked with farmers, ranchers, lessees, and other fieldmen while managing state school lands in western Nebraska. In 1974, Ron & Kendra built a house and moved to Minden, NE, then in 1979, they moved to Lincoln where Ron served as a Field Supervisor for BELF. Ron received the Accredited Rural Appraiser designation from the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers in 1987. In 2004 he served as president of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. He retired from BELF in 2012, but continued working as a handyman for the Lincoln office for several more years.
Ron & Kendra were blessed with three children: Randall, Krista, and Kimberly. Ron had a vast knowledge of how to build and fix things and an endless patience and desire to share his skills with his family, neighbors, friends, his church community, and anyone demonstrating a need. He was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church. He participated in the choir, Bible studies, and multiple service projects, including Common Threads, Orphan Grain Train, and outdoor clean-ups; Ron also helped Kendra with weddings and funeral luncheons.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents Ilef Jr. and Melba, his brother Gaylen Vance, and his sister Marilyn Kasperbauer. He is survived by his wife Kendra; children Randall (Cori) Vance of Bellevue, NE; Krista (Jayson) Gerth of Ankeny, IA; and Kimberly (David) Beasley of Las Cruces, NM; 8 grandchildren (Abby, Sara, Christine, Lindsey, Daniel, Tyler, Nathan, & Zachary); and many friends.
A visitation with family will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S 84th St, Lincoln, NE, followed by a Celebration of Ron’s Life at 11:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed. https://www.youtube.com/@MessiahLincoln/streams . Interment will take place at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery that afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lincoln’s Friendship Home, your local food pantry, or Messiah Lutheran – Home in a Box.