Ronnie D Abegglen

Ron Abegglen, Coach A, passed away December 19, 2018. Ron was born on August 19, 1937 to Larry Abegglen and Wilma Peggy Thompson Abegglen. Ron married LaRae Young on April 3rd, 1956. He later married Nedra Blackham Nelson on March 25, 1986.

Ron was a native of Vernal, Utah, where he graduated from Uintah high school. After high school, he went on to BYU where he had a four-year career playing basketball for the Cougars. He began his legendary career as a basketball coach first at Morgan high school where he spent thirteen seasons as head coach. After Morgan, Ron spent the next ten seasons coaching the Snow College Badgers in Ephraim. He then left Utah for the Anchorage, Alaska Seawolves first as an assistant coach, then as head coach. In 1991, Ron came back to Utah as head coach of the Weber State Wildcats until 1999. After Weber, he spent two seasons coaching the London Towers of the British Basketball League. Ron finished his long career of coaching in Fillmore Utah where he coached for two years at Millard high school. In a coaching career that spanned over forty years, he never had a losing record. He is known for leading his teams into several of the famous NCAA game upsets that people still talk about today. Many of Coach As players and former coaching rivals were still calling him for advice, guidance and secret plays. As a basketball coach, he will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his passion and devotion to the game, his tireless hard work, and most importantly, his commitment to help his players grow, learn, improve and develop confidence in their abilities.

After Rons basketball career, he retired to focus more on his love for golf. He became the head golf professional at Paradise Golf Course in Fillmore Utah until just recent years. He spent countless hours grooming and maintaining the beautiful golf course for everyone to enjoy. He loved giving golf lessons and visiting with his friends in the golf shop. Ron had tremendous passion for coaching and teaching all throughout his lifetime. In basketball and in golf, Ron inspired, motivated, and challenged countless individuals who will never forget his selfless acts of direction and determination. Making others improve in the sports world and also in life is what made him genuinely happy. He was a constant source of encouragement for everyone around him.

Basketball and golf were second and third to Rons true love in life; his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, brother and friend. He will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew him. As a father and grandfather, Ron was constantly checking in to make sure everyone was alright and had what they needed. He would put spending time with his family above everything else, whether it was going to basketball games, giving golf lessons, fixing something around the house, or playing with his grandchildren. The love, generosity, concern and affection that he had for his family is simply immeasurable. He loved fishing, traveling, music, and western movies, and could fix or build absolutely anything. He loved to joke around with his grandchildren, tell stories and spend time laughing with his friends.

He is survived by his children, Kirk Abegglen (JoNell), Kris Abegglen (Amanda), Kent Abegglen (Joanne) and Sara Golding (Larry), his sister Lana Arnold (Larry), his stepmother Ardith Atwood (Garth), his step brothers and sister; Valerie Dinkle (Brad), Brad McClellan (Carol), Gary McClellan (Linda), Jeff McClellan (Chris), Clark McClellan (Robin), seventeen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Jimmy and Ricky.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all of Rons friends and neighbors. A viewing will be held Friday, December 28th from 1:00-3:00pm at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home, 410 North 800 West, Vernal, Utah. Burial will be held that same day at 3:30 at the Vernal Memorial Park, 1700 South 500 East. Friends and family may call the Ashley Valley Funeral Home to offer their condolences. An Appreciation Memorial for Ron will be held Saturday, January 5th from 4:00-6:00pm at the Dee Events Center in Ogden Utah in the Rich Lounge, 4400 Harrison Boulevard, Ogden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ron Abegglen Donation Fund at Zions bank. This fund will be used to establish a scholarship fund for students at Weber State University.

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