Ronald Harold Harten was born on May 4, 1937, in Grand Junction, Iowa. He died July 20, 2022, in Phoenix, AZ.
He was the oldest son of Harold and Edna Harten. He attended Beaver and Farnhamville schools. After graduating from Farnhamville High School in 1955, he attended the Americanna University of Beauty Culture in Des Moines, graduating in June 1956. He was employed by Younkers Department Store – Salon Francois in Fort Dodge. In 1958 he enrolled at Iowa State Teachers College – later to be known as State College of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa – graduating from UNI in 1962. During his college years he was involved in residence hall government and a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
He began his teaching career in Owatonna, MN, where he taught elementary and junior high school. It was during this time that he founded the Owatonna High School Indianettes dance line. He was a member of the local chapter of Elks, Exchange Club (Junior Miss pageants), and Jaycees (Miss Minnesota pageants). He became a charter member of the Little Theatre of Owatonna Hall of Fame after playing many major and minor roles, technical director and eventually director of several productions. His swan song was a SRO production of Camelot. During his time in Owatonna he was able to attend Arizona State University in Tempe, where he received two Masters in Arts degrees – counseling and student personnel work and masters in counseling.
In 1977 he moved to Phoenix, AZ, and began a counseling career in the Paradise Valley United School District – Paradise Valley High School. He is most remembered for his yearly All-Star Retreat (Academic Leadership Laboratories – Students Teaming Around Responsibility). In 1990 he founded the international baccalaureate academic program at North Canyon High School, from which he retired in 1997.
Ron will be remembered for his friendship by everyone he met. He was the kind of person who did not have just acquaintances, he had friends. There was not a person he met that he did not call a friend, and if he knew you more than a couple of days, he’d refer to you as a best friend. He had a special gift of devotion for the confused or brokenhearted and was a troubled young person’s shelter in a storm. The more challenging the circumstances, the more he wanted to help. He truly liked and cared for his counselees and their families. He had a way with all kids to inspire them to be their very best.
His legacy of teaching young people to live their lives in an honorable fashion will be felt by multiple generations. Ron lived his life with integrity and purpose. To quote one of Ron’s colleague’s – “A man of great wit and great humor has gone from the earth to share that unique intelligence with the congregation of angels and saints which awaited him. I consider myself privileged to have been a beneficiary of that which was Ron Harten.” He is survived by his brother Bob, sister-in-law Phyllis, and niece Jill and his beloved namesake, Veronica Morton.
Interment will be at the Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction, with a Celebration of Life to happen at a later date in Phoenix. Memorials may be sent to the Owatonna Foundation, 108 West Park Square, Owatonna, MN 55060 – www.owatonnafoundation.org
Local services provided by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.
