UPDATE: There will be a Memorial Service for Ramona Bachand - the time of celebration of Ramona’s life will begin at 1:00 p.m. (Dickinson time) on Saturday August 28^th at The River of Life International Church located at 59 Osborn Drive in Dickinson.  The church is located directly behind the Quality Inn on Museum Drive, Exit 61, I-94.  Immediately following the conclusion of the celebration, all attendees are invited to Stew and Judy Stenberg’s for a luncheon and fellowship.

Some of the NDPG members have decided to stand a flag line in honor of Ramona and any members wishing to do so are welcome.  We will gather approximately 20 minutes prior to the service and also at the end of the service.

Ramona’s family is extremely thankful to the NDPG for the respect shown to them during their time of grief and great loss.

As State Captain of the North Dakota Patriot Guard I am so blessed to have met and become friends with many families of the fallen.

I have also had the honor of having one of the best leadership groups in the nation. Families of NDPG members and leadership become a very close knit group.

Very recently, the North Dakota Patriot Guard lost a very dear member, servant and great friend. We are deeply saddened by this loss.

Ramona Bachand was a great contributor to what the NDPG stands for, support of military families, and demonstrated an unconditional love to all.

As your hurried days pass, take time to remember Ramona's incredible spirit, patriotism, love of mankind, and generosity. Also keep in your thoughts and prayers Ramona's dear friend and brother, Ride Captain Stew Stenberg, and his family.

With tremendous Respect,
David K. Pagel

State Captain, North Dakota Patriot Guard

Ride Captain Teresa Terry will share some  of her memories of Ramona with you.

I first met Ramona in July of 2008. I remember thinking what a tiny, kind, gentle creature she looked like. It didn't take me long to realize I was right but I also learned in those two short days that in that tiny frame was a spark that burned with great passion for our military members and their families. She herself, of course committed many years to serving this great nation yet she often acted as though it was nothing and what really mattered was what we as members of the community and the NDPG were doing to honor our real American heroes both past and present.

We became close friends that weekend and despite our age difference we had a lot in common and trust me we talked about everything from the Air Force to trying to find a good man. The following year we reconnected at the rally and despite looking a little more tired Ramona still lit up when greeting an old friend or making a new one. She was just as committed to the cause as previous years and her dedication was matched by few. She was always very professional, I have never seen the MIA/POW table done with such grace and elegance as when she performed the ceremony.

I was always excited when I received an email from Ramona, she always seemed to send them at the perfect time and they were always very positive and wise and of course something always made me chuckle. However, a few days before the 2010 rally she emailed and said she didn't have enough strength to make it, and my heart sank a little. She had still managed to make the flowers for the families and had communicated with Judy her vision of the decorations and I knew that she would be with us every way possible except physically.

When I received the message from Stewart in the early morning hours of Saturday the 7th, my heart sank further. Despite my sadness I knew God had a need for this dear angel and called her home. I thought about the many laughs and tears we had in the brief time we knew each other and was able to fall into a peaceful sleep. As I left for work that morning I looked up into the sky and smiled. I saw the most beautiful full rainbow I had ever seen, I figured that had to be the work of a special angel. Our new special angel, I believe it was Ramona telling me everything was alright, she was in good hands and I would now have another set of eyes watching over me from above. I will miss her smile, her spirit and the caring look in her eyes. I will miss my dear friend. See you on the other side.......

Ramona Rae Bachand

August 6, 2010, the North Dakota Patriot Guard lost one of its most committed and dedicated members when she was called home by the Good Lord.  Ramona Rae Bachand of Show Low, Arizona entered into the Kingdom of Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior.

Ramona was a North Dakota native and her love and passion for the prairies and buttes of western North Dakota never left her.  Ramona was born November 11, 1941 in New England, North Dakota.  Her parents farmed Northwest of Hettinger, North Dakota and the family farm is where she would be raised and received her education.  She was the eldest of five children, so she quickly learned her role as a mentor and always held herself to high morals and standards in an effort to set an example for her siblings.

She attended country school for eight years at Argonne School # 3 and then entered high school in Hettinger and graduating in 1959.  She was married in 1963 and moved to Rapid City, SD at that time where her two sons were born…..Bob Binstock in 1964 and Brad Binstock in 1966.  Ramona entered work for the U.S. Forest Service in the Nemo District and remained there for a few years until she began her employment with the United Stated Air Force at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City.  As an Air Force civil servant she quickly learned to respect our service men and women for their service and sacrifice to our nation.  She moved to Tucson, Arizona eight years ago to complete a career of service in the Air Force spanning some 35 years.  She served at the Davis-Monthan AFB until her retirement somewhat over three years ago.   Ramona was the recipient of nearly every achievement and merit award presented to civilian employees for her contributions and commitment to the USAF and its personnel.  These awards were all given on both an AFB base level and a national level.

Ramona moved to the White Mountains near Show Low Arizona after retirement where she resided on a small ranchette which allowed her the freedom of enjoying nature and, as well, her horses and dogs.  She loved the solitude and peace and spent endless hours enjoying the infinite beauty of her surroundings.  This was her retirement dream……and she had finally come to realize it.

Ramona’s passion for showing respect and honor to those who served in the military was renewed three years ago when she was told of the mission of the NDPG by her brother Stew Stenberg.  She immediately, and without hesitation, committed herself to the organization’s mission statement and signed up to be a member.  Her compassion for the families of our fallen heroes was beyond reproach and she found such joy in coming to the rallies from Arizona to rekindle old friendships and enjoy making new friends.  She took her involvement seriously and whether it was to open her pocketbook or open her heart; she stood ready to give and serve.

Ramona was so very honored to present the POW/MIA ceremony at the rally two years ago when the organization honored Keith Smette and Ken Hendrickson.  She had a great passion for the POW/MIA issues and vowed to keep their memory alive and see to it that they were never forgotten.

The past two years she had personally crafted and supplied the families of our fallen heroes with lanyards and flower corsages so that the family members might be readily identified.  It took her three months to craft the flowers due to her illness, but she would settle for nothing less than perfection and the best for the families.  She was able to mail them three weeks before her passing to insure they would be available for rally time.  Before her passing she was able to view many 2010 rally pictures with the family wearing the corsages and the Recreation Center adorned with all of the beautiful decorations, table clothes and table centerpieces she had donated for this year’s event.  She was very pleased that the decorations had been set up and displayed just as she had perceived it in her mind’s eye.  She wanted everything just perfect so that it would reflect credit on the NDPG and, as well, show the proper honor and respect that was due our fallen heroes and their families.

Ramona is survived by her two sons, Brad Binstock and Bob Binstock and her two brothers, Stew Stenberg & Bill Stenberg.  A host of friends will always carry her memory in their hearts and she too, will never be forgotten.  Arrangements for cremation and for a small family celebration to share in the memories of her life are currently being planned.  She requested only celebration upon her passing and a customary toast with a margarita in her memory by friends and family.

If you would like to share a card or any memory of Ramona with her family, please mail the same to:
Mr. & Mrs. Brad Binstock & sons
1912 East Harrison Street
Chandler, Arizona  85225
Or
Bob & Collie Jo Binstock
4530 Bella Way
Carmichael, California  95608

Whenever parting from the company family or friends Ramona would always depart with this message,   ”Take care and I love you, if I don’t see you again, I’ll see you on the other side.”

See you there Mona………………we love you.