Ronald Joseph Hellstern
July 13, 1946 - January 3, 2020
Ronald Joseph Hellstern, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on Friday, January 4, 2020, at the age of 73, surrounded by his family.
Ron was born on July 13, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, to Joseph George Hellstern and Rosina Elizabeth Huss. He was the oldest of four children (Don, Rosina, and Doug).
Ron grew up in Antioch, Illinois, and graduated from Antioch High School. His love for the outdoors began when he was young and traveled around the US with his family. His travels continued into adulthood, and he eventually visited all 50 U.S. states and 50 countries around the globe. As a boy, Ron started his own neighborhood science exploration club and even created a unique flag to mark the club. This early exposure to the great outdoors later prompted him to move west to attend Utah State University.
While attending USU, he was a member of both the swimming team and the marching band. Ron graduated with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Athletics, with a minor in Zoology. He later returned and earned his master's degree from USU in Physical Education. He then began his lifelong passion of teaching.
Ron loved sports and became a coach in basketball, track, trampoline, golf, and swimming. While living in Idaho, he started the Lava Hot Springs Swim team, taking several members on to State and Western Zone competitions.
During college, he was introduced to, and joined, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He said many times that this was one of the greatest decisions of his life. He had an amazing testimony of Jesus Christ. Ron lived a life full of service to others and held many church callings.
Ron married Helen Cooley in 1966 and together they had 7 children, Rhett (Angela), Brandt (DeDe), Darren (Nicky), Brock (Amy), Bryce, Heather, and Breanna. They later divorced. Ron then met, and married, Wendy Duncan. Together they had 2 children, Tana (Josh Cambra) and Parker. They spent 31 wonderful years together.
Ron was an educator for 42 years. He taught at public schools in Illinois, Idaho, and Utah. Science was his favorite subject he taught, and he became an avid environmentalist. Ron participated in, and led, many different environmental clubs, committees, and organizations. He shared his love for the outdoors with everyone he knew and mentored many of his students in International Envirothon competitions for several years. Ron had a strong emotional connection to Zion National Park. He made regular trips to hike the park, take students to visit the area, participate in service projects and bird counts, and especially to spend time there with his wife, Wendy. Ron was also an advocate for the monarch butterfly and, to promote their habitat, planted milkweed whenever and wherever he could.
Ron loved his community and worked to improve it in many ways including serving on the Nibley City Council and various educational and environmental committees. He was instrumental in acquiring, and naming, Firefly Park in Nibley.
Ron shared his father's passion for scouting and participated with his boys through all levels. He was Pack Master, Scout Master, and active in Round Tables and POW WOWs. He ultimately was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver award for distinguished service to the Boy Scouts of America.
During his life, Ron received many other awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Utah Society for Environmental Education, Utah State Citizen-Forester of the Year, the President's Environmental Award (taking him to the White House to meet the President), and Teacher of the Year for several organizations.
Ron is survived by his wife, Wendy Duncan. He is also survived by his children; Rhett, Brandt, Darren, Brock, Bryce, Heather, Breanna, Tana, and Parker and four stepdaughters; Kristen (James Kropf), Michelle (Aaron Theberge), MaryAnn (Bob Wofford), and Allison (Bryan Tidwell). He has 40 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Ron is also survived by his two brothers Don (Cindy) and Doug and sister Rosina Vega. He is proceeded in death by his parents Joseph George Hellstern and Rosina Elizabeth Huss.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2020, in the Nibley Stake Center, 3701 S. 450 West in Nibley. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street in Logan, and prior to the services on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the stake center. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.net.
In lieu of flowers, per Ron's request, an account has been set up in his name at Anderson Seed and Garden Store in Logan to plant trees.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Logan Herald Journal from Jan. 4 to Jan. 9, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Ronald Hellstern

Sponsored by Allen-Hall Mortuary.

3 Entries

Vince Bellon

January 9, 2020

I am truly saddened to hear of Ron's passing. I had the opportunity to know him when he taught and coached at Marsh Valley High School in Idaho.
He was a wonderful teacher and an exceptional basketball coach. He was an even better man. I want to express my condolences to his wife and kids. Ron has truly left a wonderful legacy for his family. May the Lord bless and comfort you during this time of grief.

Marie Huber

January 7, 2020

I am truly saddened to hear of Mr. Hellstern's passing. I was a fifth-grade student of his wife, Wendy Hellstern, about ten years ago. I loved being in Mrs. Hellstern's class; she made every student feel loved and included and safe. Fifth grade only holds happy memories for me, mainly because Mrs. Hellstern was such a wonderful teacher. She knew had to connect with kids, how to teach in a way that was exciting. She always went the extra mile. We were the only fifth grade class who put on Revolutionary War plays, complete with costumes and a full backdrop. In the afternoon, she would read us The Watsons Go to Birmingham (which has become one of my favorite books). She taught us how to make Easter egg baskets out of balloons and string. And another reason for loving Mrs. Hellstern? She didn't make her students go to a Valentine's Day Dance with the rest of the fifth grade. She made learning fun, and so did her husband. In the spring, Mr. Hellstern helped prepare our class for the fifth grade softball tournament. I can still remember those warm afternoons, when Mrs. Hellstern would put on her white tennis shoes and Mr. Hellstern would arrive with a mitt and several softballs, and we'd all race to the baseball diamond, kicking up dirt and grass on our way. Mr. Hellstern would pitch and Mrs. Hellstern would teach us how to swing. Even though I wasn't the most athletic girl on our team, I never felt that I wasn't needed; I never felt like my efforts weren't welcome. Every kid was essential in Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern's eyes. Our class won the tournament that year, and we all felt pretty happy about that.

Not only did Mr. Hellstern teach us about softball, but he was very involved in our class throughout the entire school year, coming often to help wherever he was needed. I remember him teaching me and my fellow students about the birds and plants found in our outdoor classroom. He was so kind and shared his passion for the outdoors with all of us. That spring, I brought a monarch butterfly caterpillar I had found into class and we watched it grow, form a chrysalis, and then emerge as a majestic monarch butterfly. When it came time to let our butterfly go, Mr. Hellstern came to our class, gathered the entire fifth grade outside, and then helped me properly mark the wings of the monarch so that it could be tracked in its migration. I remember feeling so honored to be the one to release the butterfly into the air, and I treasure the memory of watching it take off, with its orange and black wings glistening in the morning sunlight.

As a little eleven year old fifth-grader, I had no idea about Mr. Hellstern's incredible accomplishments or prestigious awards. All I knew was that he knew more about birds and butterflies and trees than I ever would, and that he made me want to care about them too. To me, he was just my pretty teacher's kind husband, who always had a smile for each of us and made me and my classmates feel loved.

I'm so grateful for the small association I have been blessed to have with Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern, for their great influence on me and thousands of other students. They are both beautiful examples of what true Christlike love and service looks like. I hope that as I embark on my own journey to become an educator, I will be able to exemplify those same qualities that Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern each had.

[Mrs. Hellstern, if you're reading this, I want you to tell you thank-you for all you did for me and that I love you and will be praying for you! I'll never forget the love you showed for me and each of your students! Thanks for everything!]

Marie Huber

January 7, 2020

I am truly saddened to hear of Mr. Hellstern's passing. I was a fifth-grade student of his wife, Wendy Hellstern, about ten years ago. I loved being in Mrs. Hellstern's class; she made every student feel loved and included and safe. Fifth grade only holds happy memories for me, mainly because Mrs. Hellstern was such a wonderful teacher. She knew had to connect with kids, how to teach in a way that was exciting. She always went the extra mile. We were the only fifth grade class who put on Revolutionary War plays, complete with costumes and a full backdrop. In the afternoon, she would read us The Watsons Go to Birmingham (which has become one of my favorite books). She taught us how to make Easter egg baskets out of balloons and string. And another reason for loving Mrs. Hellstern? She didn't make her students go to a Valentine's Day Dance with the rest of the fifth grade. She made learning fun, and so did her husband. In the spring, Mr. Hellstern helped prepare our class for the fifth grade softball tournament. I can still remember those warm afternoons, when Mrs. Hellstern would put on her white tennis shoes and Mr. Hellstern would arrive with a mitt and several softballs, and we'd all race to the baseball diamond, kicking up dirt and grass on our way. Mr. Hellstern would pitch and Mrs. Hellstern would teach us how to swing. Even though I wasn't the most athletic girl on our team, I never felt that I wasn't needed; I never felt like my efforts weren't welcome. Every kid was essential in Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern's eyes. Our class won the tournament that year, and we all felt pretty happy about that.

Not only did Mr. Hellstern teach us about softball, but he was very involved in our class throughout the entire school year, coming often to help wherever he was needed. I remember him teaching me and my fellow students about the birds and plants found in our outdoor classroom. He was so kind and shared his passion for the outdoors with all of us. That spring, I brought a monarch butterfly caterpillar I had found into class and we watched it grow, form a chrysalis, and then emerge as a majestic monarch butterfly. When it came time to let our butterfly go, Mr. Hellstern came to our class, gathered the entire fifth grade outside, and then helped me properly mark the wings of the monarch so that it could be tracked in its migration. I remember feeling so honored to be the one to release the butterfly into the air, and I treasure the memory of watching it take off, with its orange and black wings glistening in the morning sunlight.

As a little eleven year old fifth-grader, I had no idea about Mr. Hellstern's incredible accomplishments or prestigious awards. All I knew was that he knew more about birds and butterflies and trees than I ever would, and that he made me want to care about them too. To me, he was just my pretty teacher's kind husband, who always had a smile for each of us and made me and my classmates feel loved.

I'm so grateful for the small association I have been blessed to have with Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern, for their great influence on me and thousands of other students. They are both beautiful examples of what true Christlike love and service looks like. I hope that as I embark on my own journey to become an educator, I will be able to exemplify those same qualities that Mr. and Mrs. Hellstern each had.

{Mrs. Hellstern, if you're reading this, I want you to tell you thank-you for all you did for me and that I love you and will be praying for you! I'll never forget the love you showed for me and each of your students! Thanks for everything!}

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