PEORIA – Ronald Dean Stout, 67, of Sterling, Kan., formerly of Peoria, died June 30, 2007, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 27, 1940, in Sterling, Kan., to Clifford and Eithel (Thode) Stout. He married Fira Sue Oden on Aug. 12, 1960, in Manhattan, Kan.

She survives, along with daughter, Kimberly (Kyle) Thoren of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; daughter-in-law, Cay Stout of Toledo, Ohio; three brothers, Marion (Sam) Stout of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Leonard Stout of Orinda, Calif., and James Gibson of Sterling, Kan.; mother-in-law, Anita Oden of Sterling, Kan.; and four grandchildren, Jackson and Jami Stout of Toledo, Ohio, and Logan and Nicklas Thoren of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; son, Douglas Stout; stepfather, Galen Gibson; and brother, Robert Gibson.

He graduated from Sterling High School in 1958 and from Kansas State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering.

He worked for Caterpillar for 36.5 years, traveling worldwide and retiring as product support manager of the Worldwide Mining Group.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sterling, Kan.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 5 at First United Methodist Church in Sterling, Kan., with the Rev. Nancy Goddard officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in Sterling Community Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Douglas Stout Memorial ALS Golf Fundraiser (Make checks out to the Les Turner ALS Foundation) or the donor’s choice in care of Birzer-Sillin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 262, Sterling, KS 67579.