Ronald "Ron" Christensen

Ronald “Ron” Raymond Christensen

February 22, 1937 - December 28, 2020

Ronald “Ron” Raymond Christensen was a devoted father, grandfather and friend who loved his faith his family and his country. Ron left this earthly life December 28, 2020 just 13 minutes before his beautiful bride of 63 years.   Ron was the 10th child, a twin with his brother Robert born in Seattle, WA on February 22, 1937 to Leo and Cora (Rapp) Christensen. Ron spent his childhood in the Seattle area, mainly raised by his mother due to the fact that his father was quarantined in a tuberculosis facility until he was a teenager. He shared a sweet experience a couple of years ago about a memory he had as a child. He was sitting on a curb crying because his friend had a father, and a car. Ron recalled that he distinctly heard a voice say, “one day you will want for nothing.”

When Ron’s father finally returned home, he has fondly recalled his father building bicycles for him and his twin brother Bob, and how he walked, with great difficulty, all the way to Green Lake to watch he and his brother swim. Ron loved sports and played baseball, basketball, and football.

About a year after graduating from Lincoln High School in 1956, Ron met the love of his life Joan Yvonne “Vonnie” Warth in the summer of 1957. Vonnie described him as being quite a flirt. They were married in Coeur d’Alene, ID. September 13, 1957 and started their family shortly after. Ron is the father to 4 children, Cindy (1958) Linda (1959) Dean (1962) and Lee (1963). He is the grandfather to 20 and the great grandfather to 32.  In the early years of their marriage, Ron joined the Army National Guard and moved to El Paso, Texas where Ron received flight training on helicopters and small aircraft. Ron was hired as a pilot by United Airlines in 1964 where he spent 31 years retiring as a DC-10 captain.

Ron was a man of great honor and integrity, during his career he was recognized for his heroic efforts when involved in a major airline crash- Flight 227, Salt Lake City, November 11th 1965. He was not flying at the time. With a fractured back, he stayed on the plane, opened the door, and saved several people from a burning plane that took many lives.

After much study, contemplation, and prayer, Ron decided to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1975. This decision changed his life and the lives of his family for the better. Ron served faithfully in many church callings, including Bishop of the Eatonville ward in WA State. Ron, Vonnie and their four children were able to be sealed as a family in the Salt Lake City Temple 1977.   Ron also had a great passion for the US Constitution, the founding fathers, and his country. After retiring from the airlines, he completed a correspondence bachelor’s degree in constitutional studies from George Wythe College in Southern Utah.

Ron left a legacy of faith, integrity, and honest hard work. His children remember with fondness the lessons he taught them on the farm, boat trips and ski trips. His grown children and grandchildren remember that he and Vonnie always made their house full of love and a place to gather. He is dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit family Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.  Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Funeral Services will be live-streamed by scrolling to the bottom of this obituary page.

Order Video