MITCHELL – Ronald “Ron” Gregg Artman, 76, the founder and lead singer of the Blessed Hearts Country Gospel Band, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at his residence.
Born September 13, 1948, in Lebanon, he was the son of Samuel Artman and Beverly Jayne (Gregg) Gillespie.
Ron attended Lebanon High School in Chula Vista, California and graduated from Chula Vista in 1966. He attended Indiana University, Northwestern University, and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Ron was a NAUI open water search and recovery scuba diver. He was also a certified Grand Master with the United States Karate Association, which he studied and taught for 40 years.
After graduation, Ron joined the United States Army for four years, where he received specialized training, and was shipped to Vietnam where he served for two and a half years as a combat soldier.
During his service with the Army, he met his wife Betty Lou Guthrie in 1967 and they were married for 47 years. Ron and his wife were the parents of three children: Kimberly Marie Nickless, Gregory Thomas Artman, and Nicole Michelle Nicholas.
After discharging from the service in 1970, Ron and his wife settle in Lebanon, Indiana for a short time. In 1971, he and his wife decided to relocate to Campbellsburg, Indiana, which was his wife’s birthplace. Ron sought law enforcement as a career and was appointed Campbellsburg Town Marshal. After serving several years as Marshal, he went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff. He later went to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department where he was employed until his 20th year and retired in 1992. After his retirement, he was asked to join the Burton Hickman Law Firm in Bedford, Indiana. He was employed there until the partners went into semi-retirement. After leaving the law firm, Ron decided to make a course change in his career. Ron joined the Local 20 International Sheet Metal Union, where he worked at Poynter Sheet Metal until his final retirement in 2015. After retirement, he became a Ham radio technician and member of Emergency Radio Communications.
Ron had an undying love for music, dating back to the 1960’s with his backyard garage bands. The music followed him throughout the years, playing rock, county, and gospel music.
Ron’s greatest joy was when he formed the Blessed Hearts Country Gospel Band, which he shared with his youngest daughter, Nicole Nicholas, and his oldest granddaughter, Samantha Nickless.
They traveled all over Indiana, sharing God’s message in song at churches, fairs, festivals, charity events, and public events – sometimes sharing the stage with gospel greats.
Ron was quoted as saying, “I’ve lived a good life. I’ve done many things that some have only dreamed of – like helping protect the Vice President of the United States. I’ve fought a war, operated heavy equipment, went to school, learned many new skills, served the citizens and my neighbors, became a husband, father, and grandfather, and I served my God the best way I could.”
Surviving are his life partner, Rita Mae Hopper of Mitchell; children, Gregory Thomas (Liz) Artman of Mitchell and Nicole Michelle (Caleb Furman) Nicholas of Mitchell; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and siblings, Samuel (Teresa) Artman of Carmel, Richard Gillespie of Lewiston, Idaho, James Gillespie of Uniontown, Washington, Shilda Ann Gillespie of Lewiston, Idaho, and Michelle S. Lazalier Marsh of Napa, Idaho.
His parents; wife, Betty Lou Guthrie Artman; daughter, Kimberly Marie Nickless; and step-mother, Lola Marie Artman, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 30, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Reverend Glenn Hamer officiating. Military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post No. 250 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9107. Burial will be at Mitchell Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial Donations: Bertha’s Mission or Disabled Veteran’s Wish Foundation of Indiana
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