Ronald Arthur Ricley, 71, of Lecompton, Kansas, passed away on September 17, 2020. He was a man of God who embodied what it means to be a servant leader. It would be impossible to count how many lives were touched by Jesus Christ through the ministry of Brother Ron. He left a lasting legacy spilling over with good fruit.
As an evangelist, pastor and teacher for 53 years, he traveled throughout the United States, Central America and West Africa carrying the good news of salvation in Christ, praying for the sick and caring for the needy. He encouraged the church at large to love the truth, do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Born July 3, 1949, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado, Ron was the son of Arthur & Pauline Ricley. He grew up in an active household with three brothers and one sister. Many summers growing up, he was invited to stay with his grandmother, Emelia Williamson, who lived in Trenton, Nebraska. At age 12, Ron’s life changed forever when he was born again and took hold of his Savior’s hand, never to let it go. He entered the ministry in 1967, when he was appointed pastor at Cornell Church in Hitchcock County, Nebraska.
Ron served in the U.S. Army as an air traffic controller and was stationed at Camp Evans in Vietnam during the war. After his military service ended in 1971, he returned to Colorado and began a prison ministry. He served inmates in Adams County, Brighton and Cañon City.
Ron relocated to Nebraska and joined the police force in McCook in 1974. Several years later he moved to Arkansas, where he served as the Chief of Police in Diamond City and later as a Deputy Sheriff for Boone County.
In 1977, Ron began a series of evangelistic meetings under a Gospel tent. He traveled throughout Nebraska and Kansas for several summers and had many testimonies about the lives God impacted and the lessons he learned under the tent.
For 31 years, Ron served as the pastor of the Chapel of Lecompton, where he established a teaching ministry that focused on the Holy Spirit as the Teacher sent by God. In 1997, he founded the West African Center for Ministerial Studies in Ghana, where he held Bible revelation seminars for all Christian ministries in four West African countries. He also conducted seminars in Central America. Ron’s book, The Absolutes of God, was written to answer some of the most common questions pastors asked him at the seminars.
Ron enjoyed playing the guitar and had a talent for singing and songwriting. His CD, When He Speaks It’s Like Thunder, is available on his website ronricleyministries.com. The website also contains his book, The Absolutes of God and almost 300 sermons
He also enjoyed aviation and was an IFR-certified pilot. For many years, he owned a Cessna 182 Skylane, which he often flew between Lecompton and another church he oversaw in LaSalle, Colorado.
In September of 2000, Ron married his beloved Rachel (Newby). She accompanied him to both Africa and Central America and was a true partner in his ministry. They have four children: Katie, Ethan, Jonette and Benjamin.
Other survivors include a son: Gary Patrick Ricley; grandchildren: Joshua Ricley and Isaiah Ricley; a great grandchild: Foster Ricley; his brothers: Gerald Ricley of Chugwater, WY, Fred Ricley of Perry, KS, and Paul Ricley of McCook, NE; and his sister: Annette Campbell, Trenton, NE; and many nieces & nephews.
Visitation will be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas, on Thursday, September 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. Masks are required and the gathering is limited to 45 persons at any one time. The family asks that attendees be aware of social distancing requirements and refrain from lingering in the building.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the funeral will be a private service on Friday, September 25, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow immediately with a graveside service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Lecompton. All are welcome at the graveside. Masks are required and social distancing measures will be observed.
Memorials may be sent to the Ronald A. Ricley Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 204, Lecompton, KS 66050. This fund is set up to benefit Ron and Rachel’s children.
My mom took me to my first tent revival at 23rd and Haskell where we met Ron- he was such a blessing through the years And wrote a message when he gifted my mom her bible. We will see Ron again one day in heaven!
It’s impossible to know how many lives were changed by this true man of God! My heart aches for all of us left to live in a world without him and his teaching! He may be the most loving person I’ve ever met, his love for God was like one I’ve never seen, and his love for others was so evident by the hours and hours he would spend in prayer on their behalf. His example of truly walking with the Lord has dramatically altered my life and I am so blessed to have known him. Well done thou good and faithful servant. Until we meet agin.
My sister (Charlina) and I grew up with the Ricley’s. Pauline was my second Mom. We spent a lot of time with Gary and Ron. They asked us to help them with their paper route. Once was enough for me. I have always felt that they were my brothers. My prayers are with Ron’s family. We will see him again!!!
TRIBUTE BY SAMUEL/ CINDY MARTEY
John 5: 24 & 25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life…Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live”
I have struggled to write this piece because I did not dream that my pastor, mentor, teacher, friend, brother and a father will be called home this soon. When information reached me through Brother Carl that you – Pastor Ron Ricley was sick, I quickly called my family to the prayer altar and passed information to the Ashaiman Ministerial Association to lift up prayer for your immediate recovery. Few minutes later information reached me that you have gone to be with the Lord God. It hit me like bomb! But God knows best, and for sure I know you are in His Arms.
My first recollection of you (Pastor Ron) was in 1997 when you visited Ghana with your team. In 1998 I had the opportunity to benefit from your Spirit filled teachings. You blessed each attendee with the “HEBREW-GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE”. As if that was not enough, you set up a well resourced library for all ministers to update their knowledge in Scripture and have a deeper relationship with Christ. You are a generous man by all standards. Your leadership brought some of us out of poverty to a stable living.
You gave me the opportunity to visit you in the US in 2004, I remember one of your children was a month old and yet you came with your wife and that precious child to welcome me at the airport in Denver and drove me home. In 2006 when I fell sick and thought all hope was gone you flew me to the US for treatment. Though you were in Honduras at the time on mission assignment, you returned to the US because of me. I am deeply reminded of the good feeling I had when I saw your face, you were more than willing to help. Your lifestyle defines love in its completeness. It is still fresh in my mind of what the Lord did through you when I approached you by faith to pray for my wife to give birth to a male child which you did and it happened exactly. I named the boy after you!
Pastor Ron, I will forever miss you! My family will forever miss you! The ministers in Africa will forever miss you! Though death has taken your body, the Lord God is keeping your soul, the minds of us who love you hold your memories, our hearts keep the love and our faith in Christ tells us we will meet again with you in heaven.
May your soul rest in peace with Christ.
Sorry for his death but i want to join the funeral
I want to join the funeral of pastor Ron
We met Ron through his brother Fred, 36 years ago. As new Christians Ron taught us so much about Jesus. I remember when he brought the tent to a nearby town, McCook, NE. We helped him set it up. A storm came before we were done and blew the tent down on top of us, but no one was injured. Ron went on to hold meetings for several days. These were exciting times as we learned about Jesus in ways that we had not known. Without a doubt Ron impacted our lives in a way that no one could have! Ron’s life is a testimony to the Lord! He has certainly touched the lives of everyone he met for Jesus! He worked hard and he was a faithful servant to Lord! Even though I have not had contact with him for several years, I feel a real loss knowing that he is not with us now. His legacy lives on in the Name of Jesus! Our hearts are with his wife and family! God Bless the Ricely family and all that they do! No other family has impacted us in such a deep way! David
Ron has been very close to my family for years especially best pals with my dad Michael Schneider. The Ricley’s have always been a family to all throughout the years, a helping and loving hand no matter what. One thing about Ron is that he loved truth more than anything, nothing stopped him from doing what God would’ve had him do, he’s a man after Gods own heart. I’ll never forget the words he preached of the lord and I just loved hearing him sing it brought so much peace. He truly loved the lord with all his heart and soul. He is always going to be in our hearts. And Because he took care of us, now is our time to take care of his beloved family. Comfort. Sending my prayers up for my dear Ricley family.❤️
I’ve known Ron since I was 21. Now I’m 62. He was a great pastor, counselor, friend and fellow soldier in this army of God we are in. So thankful for his time and obedience to the Lord and all the help he gave myself and my 2 sons. I don’t think we would have been able to make it through without the help we got from his obedience to the Lord for us. May he Rest In Peace and reap the rewards that await him.
I have known Pastor Ronald Ricley since 1988. His ministry has blessed the lives of Sandy Carpenter, my sister-in-law, Linda, my wife and me. Brother Ron came to see me when I was at St. Joseph’s Hospital on March 5, 2006 when I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer. On April 15, 2006, I had video arthroscopic surgery and was placed on a ventilator following the surgery. On Sunday evening, my wife talked with Brother Ron, and in the course of their conversation, Linda informed him that she rebuked the spirit of death. He paused for a moment, and responded: “This is the Word of God we have been looking for! Tom will be home in ten (10) days.” On April 17, 2006 I came of the ventilator and came home on April 25. I returned to work full time at the Colorado Center for the Blind in July, 2006. I have been cancer free since then. We have been strengthened in the faith through Brother Ron’s ministry.
We pray for your journey through this difficult time. Ron’s presence will be missed, and his memory cherished. He was an amazing man of God. Those that knew him were blessed with his wisdom. I hope you feel the love of all who knew him and care for you and the kids. May God walk close to you in the days to come. Love
I knew Ron and Rachel and their kids very well. He was actually my preacher and I saw him every time at church helping somebody in his/her life. He was perfectly healthy and I feel so bad that he left his wife widowed. Ron was the perfect angel for my family. Though I only knew him for 2 years, he was so important to me! I miss Ronald Ricley’s preaching voice. God be with Rachel and the kids.
What a blessing Bro Ron was in the Earth and in the Body of Christ
He was a strength to me and my family for many years–always pointing us to the Lord Jesus.
As we mourn his Presence with us here; we have hope to join him with Jesus in the coming years.
I pray God’s strength and comfort for our dear Rachel and her children and for all the Ricleys, and the Church family and friends. Bless you and Love in Our Lord Jesus!
I will miss you so much, and I’m praying for everyone I love you so much!
I have literally know Bro. Ricley since I was 5 years old and I still remember most of the teachings and the lessons that he taught me. I am a better person for having known you. My prayers are with your family and your congregation. Until we meet again.
Scott McNish
Ron truly saved the life’s and souls of many on earth and after death and leaving earth. Ron,, thank you and rest in peace and in Gods arms!! You earned it!!
Truly a man of God that changed the course of my life. I will be forever grateful.
To the one who rescued me out of a prison cell and gave me hope for my future. And although I fell short on many occasions I always went back to the living example of Jesus that God set before me. The Word truly became flesh and like Timothy of old you fathered me. I will truly miss you and will be looking forward to the reunion one day in that glorious city.
I pray for the comfort of Rachel, the kids, your immediate family and the many lives that you touched.
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. May the Lord bring comfort and peace.
My beloved brother,,you run the race ,achiving the prize of the high calling in CHRIST JESUS,,MISS AND ALWAYS LOVED,,and the TRUTH OF JESUS CHRIST,,Becky
Brother Ron was a true mentor in the ministry for me. Great is the reward in heaven. Our prayers are with his family and congregation.
Grace,Peace,&Love be multiplied to the Ricley family!!!Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of a saint.Always in my thoughts and prayers and know we will greatly miss our beloved pastor& teacher& friend.Love to you Rachel and Katie, Ethan , Jonette,BenjaminTy.pray that all your needs be met in the name of Jesus.My deepest and sincere condolences.
My love and prayers to you and your family 💕. He was so loved and will be greatly missed!
Rachel, children & extended family, we pray for the peace & love of our Lord for you during this time & beyond. We are here for you for anything you need. Our love & prayers are with you. Dale & Betty Guder & family
So sorry he’s gone. He was loved by so many. LOVE TO Rachel and kids.