HIS WAS A LIFE WELL LIVED
by Lynell LaMountain
Ron Halvorsen was born January 18, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended William E. Grady vocational high school which had a delinquency rate so high that a book, The Blackboard Jungle, was written about it and later made into a movie.
One day in 1954, Ron, who joked about having his own truancy officer, ditched school to see his neighborhood friend, Jim Londis, who attended Greater New York Academy. It was Week of Prayer, and Jim invited Ron to chapel. He pretended not to listen, but he felt the Holy Spirit tugging at his heart.
Ron skipped school every day that week to attend Week of Prayer. He responded to the altar call and gave his life to Christ. For a kid who spent his life on the run, he met the one thing he couldn’t outrun: the unconditional love and grace of Jesus.
He transferred to Greater New York Academy, but kept in touch with his friends in the gangs. He shared the Good News with them because he desired that they experience abundant life in Jesus. Some accepted Christ, others didn’t. One of his close friends said, “Ron, it costs too much to be a Christian,” to which Ron responded, “It costs too much NOT to be a Christian.” His friend stayed in the gangs and was later arrested for a violent crime and sent to prison.
Ron graduated from the academy in 1956 before enrolling at Atlantic Union College (AUC) to study theology and become a minister. Here, he fell in love with Carrol LaMountain. They married on September 1, 1957, and, for the next 58 years, worked as a team sharing the Good News that resulted in thousands of people giving their hearts to God and living with the hope of Christ’s soon return.
Graduating from AUC in 1961, Ron continued his religious studies at the Andrews University Theological Seminary before entering full-time ministry in 1962.
During the next 24 years, he pastored churches in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, and Maryland; was a full-time evangelist in Carolina Conference, New York City, and with Faith for Today; served as Ministerial Director for Mid-America Union Conference; and held field schools of evangelism for Andrews University, Southwestern Adventist University, and Union College.
In 1986, Ron accepted an invitation from Southern Union Conference to serve as Church Growth Director, a position he held until he retired in 2003. While here, he started the Lay Pastor Training program, held field schools of evangelism for Southern Adventist University, and organized Union-wide Evangelism Councils.
In retirement, Ron worked for It Is Written with Mark Finley, Shawn Boonstra, and John Bradshaw as Prayer Coordinator, in addition to holding evangelistic meetings resulting in more than 1,000 baptisms.
Ron served the Lord with great zeal. Ministry wasn’t his career—it was his calling. He spoke the truth and lived with passion. Young and old alike considered him their friend. Ron’s love for Jesus never wavered, even during life’s darkest moments. His faith was unshakable because his love for Christ was undying.
Ron’s love for his family was generous, faithful, and constant. He was their leader, shepherd, protector, mentor, hero, and friend. He was an outstanding husband to Carrol; father to Ron Jr. and Diane; grandfather to Ron III, William, Kelsey, and Stephanie; and great-grandfather to Noah and Katelynne.
Ron fought the good fight and finished the race. His was a life well lived in faithful service. The next sound he will hear is the voice of his Forever Friend calling him from the grave victorious over death. On that glorious day, Ron will be reunited with his family to celebrate the joy of eternity with them and the countless thousands who called him friend.