Ronald Richard Hall

Ronald Richard Hall aged 85, passed away on Tuesday, January 7th.  He was preceded in death by his wife Bettina (Thomas) in June 2024, his parents Raleigh Hall and Theresa Grassel, his sister, Virginia Oswald, brothers-in-law, Dick Oswald, Mike Thomas, and his Grandson, Ronnie Hall.  Ron is survived by his children, Becky, Steven (Beverly) and Wendy, niece Nancy Harmony, nephews, Jim Oswald (Lynda), Dave Oswald (Rose), and John Edward Thomas, and grandchildren Joshua Hall and Jalen and Lauren Burton. 

Ron was born January 13th, 1939, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From a very young age he loved animals, collecting baseball cards and participating in sports, especially football and track (shot and discus). He attended Ottawa Hills high school where he excelled in football and started as a tackle on the varsity for three years. After graduating, in 1957, he attended Grand Rapids Junior College where he continued his football career by starting on the offensive line for two years. After graduating from GRJC, he attended Western Michigan University with the intention of being a Social Studies teacher and coach.  Ron was active in his fraternity (Sigma Phi Epsilon) while at Western and graduated with a BA in Education. Ron was then hired by Kentwood Public Schools in 1962, as a History and Physical Education teacher and football coach. Ron also earned his Master’s Degree in Administration from Michigan State University. 

Ron would spend the next 37 years teaching American History at East Kentwood High School and he loved every minute of it.  In his history classes, he started the Oral History Project, where his students would go to assisted living facilities and interview veterans and then write reports on their experiences during and after combat in both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam.   He especially loved teaching his World War II class.  While at East Kentwood he made dozens of lifelong friends whom he loved to spend time with playing golf, racquetball and hanging out on Lake Michigan and hosting numerous gatherings.

For fifteen years, Ron was part of the East Kentwood Football’s coaching staff.  In 1966, Bob Friberg was hired and Ron was the offensive line coach for him for the next eleven years.   Ron felt especially lucky and proud to be working for the future Hall of Famer and they became very good friends.  After Ron’s retirement from coaching in 1977, he would be Coach Friberg’s “eye in the sky” on gameday, in the press box, for another ten years. Over a 22-year period (1966-87), the teams went 147-49-4, with four unbeaten seasons and ten conference titles. Throughout his retirement, he always followed the Falcon Football program and worked hard to keep in touch with the Kentwood Community by attending numerous end of the year staff parties and golf outings, football games and track meets.  

Family was always very important to Ron, and their needs were always the priority in his life.  He always loved running around attending various concerts and sporting events for his kids and grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments.  The most important part of his life was his wife, Bettina (Thomas), and she was the rock that held the family together and he adored her. They loved to travel throughout Michigan looking for antiques and baseball cards.  During the adventures in Michigan, they fell in love with Onekama and decided to build a cottage there. The cottage would become the Hall family refuge and their little piece of heaven on earth, for more than thirty-five years.  Grilling out, swimming, going for a ride on his boat, hanging out on the deck, bird watching (especially the hummingbirds and chickadees), walking on the trails and golfing or gardening, were just some of the activities that they loved to do. No matter where they travelled, Onekama was always on their minds. 

They also travelled all over the US, the Caribbean, Cabo San Lucas, and Europe (on the Band of Brothers Tour).  In the process of discovery in their travels, and approaching retirement, they wished to be closer to their friends, Jim and Mary Nieboer, so they purchased a condo in Port Saint Lucie, Florida and stayed there during the winters for twenty years.   While in Florida, he often had season tickets to the New York Mets during Spring Training and loved attending their home games and practices.  They also volunteered for various charities (hospice, humane society) and at an area school, where Ron loved to play kickball with the students during recess.  They attended numerous PGA and LPGA events in Florida and throughout the country, including several Masters, US Opens and PGA Championships. 

Private burial services were held by the family.