With deep emotion, we announce the passing of Ronald J Otteson, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, who departed this earth on January 11th 2026, at the age of 96 in Draper, Utah.
Ron was born on December 15th 1929 to Arlo Antone and Ivy Olea Otteson in Spring City, Utah. He grew up on a farm near Fountain Green, Utah and attended schools in Fountain Green and Moroni. He had tremendous respect for all of his teachers and took his education very seriously. He was voted senior class president and editor of the student yearbook.
After graduating from high school Ron attended Snow Jr. College in Ephraim, Utah and graduated as valedictorian. After Snow College he attended B.Y.U. and graduated in 1952 with an Accounting major. While he was at B.Y.U. he was a member of the “Blue Key” and also the editor of the “Banyon” yearbook. Ron was also recognized as one of B.Y.U.’s top personalities.
During the summer of 1950 Ron was working at the “Standard Oil” gas station in Bryce Canyon. He met a beautiful young lady from Tropic, Utah by the name of JoAnn Wintch who was working at the ice cream parlor. When Ron came in for an ice cream cone, JoAnn would always give him a double scoop. They courted and “rimmed” at Bryce Canyon during the summers of 1950 and 1951. They were married in the Manti Temple on December 20th 1951. Ron was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served his country as an Army Auditor. After being discharged from the Army, Ron and Joann moved to Bloomington, Indiana where Ron earned his M.B.A. Ron started his accounting career for U.S. Steel at Geneva, Utah then Lander, Wyoming and San Francisco, Ca. In 1965 Ron moved his family to Salt Lake City, Utah where he worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as president of Management Systems Corporation and later various accounting positions. Ron retired in 1991, he and JoAnn moved to St. George where they lived for 5 years and enjoyed traveling and entertaining family and friends at their cabin at Duck Creek Village on Cedar Mountain, that Ron built himself. They returned to the Salt Lake valley in 1996, first to South Jordan and later to Draper.
Ron was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many positions including twice as Ward Bishop. In 1996-97 he and JoAnn served as Church Service missionaries at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii.
Ron is survived by his 4 children, Alan (Jerry) Otteson, Diana (Brian) Teran, Rob (Annette) Otteson and Karl (Julie) Otteson, 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren that he loved dearly. He is also survived by his sister Anita Phipps (Tom-deceased) and brother Bill (Renate) Otteson. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 74 years JoAnn Wintch his parents and brothers Dave, Bruce and John.
A funeral service to celebrate Ron’s life will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Chapel, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt lake City, on Tuesday January 20th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. A viewing and visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow, also at Wasatch Lawn. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of their choosing
