Rev. Bernard Koenig

Rev. Bernard J. Koenig age 82 of Ronan passed away on Sunday December 28, 2008 from natural causes. He was born September 13, 1926 at Conrad, Montana to Michael B. and Marie Kronebush Koenig. After graduating from Conrad High School in 1944, Father Bernie was drafted in 1945 and served in the army during WW II. After his discharge from the military he returned to Conrad to work on the family farm, until enrolling in Carroll College in 1947, and graduated with a degree in business administration. In 1952 he entered St. Thomas Seminary and was ordained a priest at the Cathedral in Helena four years later. Father Bernie`s assignments were at Browning, St. Joseph`s Orphanage, Helena, Libby, Dillon, Three Forks and Belgrade as well as in the Chancery Office in Helena. He also taught accounting, economics and religion at Carroll College for three years. In 1990 he was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Ronan and retired in July of 1997. Father Bernie never really retired as he substituted saying daily mass at St. Joseph`s Mission in Charlo and in Ronan until his health would not allow it anymore. Father Bernie enjoyed golfing and fishing and reading books about spiritual life and other books pertaining to the church, as part of his everyday life. In Father Bernie`s own words: “I would say the greatest work of the priesthood is the joy of working with people in preaching the word of Jesus and helping them to see the tremendous, limitless love of Jesus for them and the way to live the love of Jesus with each other.” He is survived by his siblings; Sister Mary Agnes Koenig, OP of Chewelah, WA, Bernice Muir of Conrad, Joan (Mike) Keegan of Spokane WA, and Donald (Evelyn) Koenig of Conrad, Mt. Visitation will be held Sunday starting at noon in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan; a rosary will be recited at 3:00 pm in the church and vigil services will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 10:30 am in the church. Military honors will follow services at the church. A family mass will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 10:30 am in St. Michael`s Catholic Church in Conrad with Father Michael Poole officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorials in Father Koenig`s name may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan or the retired priest fund in Helena.