Father Bernard J. Koenig, 82, of Ronan, a World War II Army veteran, died of natural causes the morning of Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, in Ronan.

He was born Sept. 13, 1926, at Conrad 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 WWII. 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 of St. Helena four years later. Father Bernie’s assignments were at Browning, St. Joseph’s Orphanage in 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. He celebrated daily Mass at St. Joseph’s Mission in Charlo and in Ronan until his health would not allow it any more.

Father Bernie enjoyed golfing, fishing and reading books about spiritual life and other books pertaining to the Church, as part of his everyday life.

In his 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, Wash., Bernice Muir of Conrad, Joan (Mike) Keegan of Spokane and Donald (Evelyn) Koenig of Conrad.

Memorials in Father Koenig’s name may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan or to the retired priest fund in Helena.

A vigil service was held at Sacred Heart Church in Ronan on Jan. 4, and the funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 5, also in Ronan.

A family Mass took place Jan. 6 at St. Michael Church in Conrad, followed by burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls. Grogan Funeral Home in Polson took care of arrangements.

Condolences may be posted online at www.groganfuneralhome.com and www.gftribune.com/obituaries.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 25, No. 1, January 23, 2009.