Ross was born Dec. 1, 1924, in Olney, Illinois.
During World War II, while in high school, he became a broadcast engineer at the radio station for the University of Illinois (which basically became the predecessor for PBS). In 1943 he entered the Army Air Corps and was trained as a radio operator. In basic training he became the squadron boxing champion.
Ross was stationed with the most active bomb group, the 379th Bomb Group in Kimbolton, England, and flew 35 missions over Germany. He initially was a ball turret machine gun operator on the underside of the B-17 Flying Fortress. Later, he was the radio operator and waist gunner. His plane was shot down on one raid, losing the bombardier.
Following the war, Ross obtained a master’s degree in history at the University of Illinois and majored in Russian history since the Cold War had now begun.
In college, Ross met Marion Chandler and they later married, sharing over 60 years together.
After a brief stint as an analyst for the CIA, Ross entered the Diplomatic Service as a foreign service officer. Stationed initially at St. John’s, Newfound-land, Ross and Marion spent the rest of his career in the Eastern Bloc countries Yugoslavia, Hungary and Poland interspersed with short stints in Washington, D.C. Ross spoke those three languages fluently as well as Russian.
Following retirement, Ross began a hike following the Continental Divide trail northward from the Mexico/New Mexico border. In 1979, Ross continued this lengthy high-altitude trail each summer, sometimes joined by Marion and his younger brother. This hike was completed in 1983, possibly the first such foot-by-foot completion.
Ross, by now living near Bigfork, continued mountain trail hiking right up until his death and was very active in the Wilderness Society, leading the local chapter at one time.
He died Jan. 30, 2016, just outside his home near Bigfork.
Ross was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and wife Marion.
He is survived by a younger brother in California.
Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home with graveside services to follow at noon at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery, with military honors.