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After 51 years behind the wheel of a Hills-Beaver Creek school bus, driver Ron Rauk delivered his last students home on June 2.
As he waited for them to board the No. 19 yellow bus, he reflected on his upcoming retirement.
“It was just time,” said Rauk, 74.
He began driving school bus in 1969 at age 23.
He had recently returned home to Beaver Creek to help his mom, Betty, with the grocery and gas station following the death of his father, Ed. He operated the store until the business was sold to his nephews, Jason and Chad Rauk, in 2000.
The family business allowed Ron Rauk the flexibility to complete all the school bus routes, plus driving the high school sports teams to out-of-town contests.
He’s been popular among parents and students who were passengers on his bus over the past five decades.
The Star Herald Facebook post on June 2 about Rauk’s retirement generated 7,900 views and garnered 44 comments over six days.
Most of them congratulated Rauk on his retirement, while others shared bus riding memories.
“Congratulations, Ron — the best bus driver,” wrote Jill Hoogeveen.
“What a great guy,” shared Tami Sonne. “I remember on the last day of school he would stop at Rauk’s in Beaver Creek and buy all the kids an ice cream cup.”
Jason Rozeboom’s was among the multi-generation families who rode the bus piloted by Rauk.
“You’re a time-honored tradition, Ron,” he wrote. “You stopped at this farm through three generations of Rozeboom kids. We are all very lucky to have gotten to ride your bus.”
A secret to Rauk’s popularity is knowing that “kids are noisy.”
“There is no way to keep them quiet,” he said.
Instead of demanding quiet, Rauk would concentrate on the road and driving, while listening for distressed voices from the students on his bus. Any change in pitch meant something was wrong.
“It’s gotten better over the years, due to talks about bullying,” he said.
Rauk did set expectations for riding his bus on the first day of school. He would arrive five minutes early and wouldn’t wait more the two minutes if someone was running late.
If Rauk didn’t keep his eye on the clock, the minutes could add up to a half-hour late to school.
“I found it worked really well,” he said. “They remembered that first time and it worked better that way.”
A few families helped Rauk during the ice and snow season, which is the most difficult for a bus driver, he said.
Sometimes slowing down wasn’t enough to keep Rauk on the road.
“I remember pulling you out of the snow banks from time to time,” wrote Warren Boeve. “Thanks for all your years in serving the community.”
The now retired Rauk and his wife, Marlys, plan to stay in Beaver Creek. Marlys works at Security Savings Bank in Hills.
Rauk said he will be a substitute bus driver until this current school bus driving licensure expires.
The Rauks have a son, Ryan, who lives in Beaver Creek, and a daughter, Linnea, who lives in Mitchell, South Dakota. They have four grandchildren and enjoy following their activities.