On January 20th, 2025, our beloved Father, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Great Great Grandfather, Ronald Stewart, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 96.
Ronald was born on April 3rd, 1928, in Benjamin, Utah to John Ivan Stewart and Sarah Ethel Shaw Stewart and was one of seven children. He was raised on a farm and spent most of his childhood exploring the outdoors. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1946. He ran track and took classes at BYU working towards a degree in teaching. He took a break to serve in the Korean War with the U.S Army then returned to BYU and finished his degree. After returning from war, he met the love of his life. He married Ruth Lavar Hiatt in the Manti Temple on May 8th, 1953. They raised five wonderful children together in Payson, Utah. He was a devoted father, teacher, and farmer, shaping young minds and cultivating the land he proudly purchased from his father. He enjoyed spending his free time dancing, fishing, and playing cards with his friends and family. Ronald valued gardening and growing his own food and passed this on to his children.
His posterity has now grown to 26 grandchildren, 78 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. He loved his family and would recite all of their names every night before falling asleep. He prioritized family and often said “family is everything.”
He is survived by his children: Rhonda (Ken) Aragon, Gary (Kimberly) Stewart, and Melanie (Mark) Orton; daughters-in-law Salley Stewart and Ann Stewart; and his sister, Sherrell Stewart Watkins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth LaVar Hiatt Stewart; his sons Douglas Ronald Stewart and Darrell Earl Stewart; his siblings Melba Kolin, Glen Stewart, Dean Stewart, Joyce Pickering, Carma Marie Olsen, and Deon Stewart; and a great-grandson, Luke Darren Sims.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday January 25th at 1:00 p.m. at the Payson Utah West Stake Center, 780 West 500 South Payson, UT. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Interment will be in Payson City Cemetery, 400 North 800 East, Payson, UT.
2 Condolences for Ronald Stewart
Condolences(2)
Marilyn Olsen Ludlow says
January 21, 2025 at 11:19 pmUncle Ronnie was fun whenever I was around him. Good memories of him and my cousins.
Vaila Gay Young says
January 26, 2025 at 4:46 pmI so enjoyed working alongside Ronald while at the Payson Middle School. He was an outstanding teacher and friend. I am grateful to hae known him
Gay Young