Dana Scott / Winonan

Ryan Kelly, 20, of Maple Grove, Minn. died Thursday, Aug. 4. Kelly enrolled at Winona State University in the fall of 2014, and was studying accounting. He was also a resident assistant (RA) in the Quad.

Kelly touched the lives of many at Winona State. Three people who knew Kelly shared memories of him so those who did not know Kelly personally can get an idea of the type of person he was.

One of those individuals was Matt Liston, a history Education major at Winona State. Liston met Kelly his first year at Winona State and grew closer to Kelly last year when they were both RAs in the Quad.

“There was never a dull moment when I was with Ryan,” Liston said. “Some of my best memories of last year, and of college in general, are with him.”

Grant Boettcher, an elementary education major at Winona State, also met and befriended Kelly during his first year. They, too, were both RAs in the Quad.

Boettcher said it was amazing to be on staff with Kelly, and he brought laughs to many staff members and residents of the building. Boettcher said Kelly spent his free time at the gym or Taco Bell. Boettcher’s favorite memory of Kelly is going to Taco Bell with him and other friends.

Additionally, a friend of Kelly’s who requested to remain anonymous, first met Kelly walking around the halls of the Quad. His favorite memory of Kelly was playing Frisbee in the streets by Gildemeister at two in the morning. The friend said they had spent most of their time laughing and talking about their families and life in general.

All three of them described Kelly as kind, funny, outgoing and helpful.

“He impacted everyone he talked to, he was a one-of-a-kind person,” Kelly’s anonymous friend said. “He had a way of making people laugh and always being there when someone needed him, even if it was just to listen.”

Boettcher recalled a time him and fellow RA Pete Schultz worked on an overdue bulletin board, and Kelly willingly helped complete it.

Boettcher also shared how Kelly was there for him after his grandparents passed away last year and attempted to cheer him up by always asking him “what’s wrong sugar.” Liston explained it was great to be on staff with Kelly because he had the ability to make anyone smile, no matter how their day was going.

Liston also shared that Kelly used his humor and outgoing personality to impact more than just the other RAs in the Quad, but to make great connections with the residents of the living quarters.

Kelly’s anonymous friend, who was also a resident of the Quad, recalled Kelly would talk to anyone and everyone that he saw.

“Ryan had that way about him that made people feel like life was simple and easy,” Kelly’s friend said.  “He was a special person and has touched so many lives, and he won’t be forgotten by any of them.”