Ronald Dean Rietveld was born in Pella, Iowa, on September 22nd, 1937. He was the only child of Jan [John] Willard Rietveld and Gertrude (Sneller) Rietveld. Ronald passed away at the age of 88 on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th, 2025 surrounded by his loved ones.

Ronald married his sweetheart, Ruth Eleanor Davis, on June 12th, 1959 at Union Park Baptist Church. They had two sons, John Laven Rietveld born on August 20th, 1963 and James Dirk Rietveld on November 22nd, 1966.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Ruth Eleanor Rietveld; son John Laven Rietveld and wife Jacqueline Marie (Salazar) Rietveld; son James Dirk Rietveld and partner Sarah Joanne Thorne. He is also survived by grandson Jacob John Rietveld as well as granddaughter Kristina Victoria Rietveld and her partner Carlos Benjamin Pelayo.

At an early age, Ronald became interested in Abraham Lincoln. He was only 14 years of age when he discovered the last photograph of Abraham Lincoln in 1952. This discovery made national headlines with a feature in Life Magazine and the front page of the Des Moines Register. He often said this experience set the trajectory of his professional career.

After Ronald graduated from East High School in Des Moines in 1955, he attended Drake University and Wheaton College, where he received his B.A. in History (1959). Feeling the Lord calling him directly into the ministry, the newly-married Rietvelds moved to St Paul, Minnesota where Ronald attended Bethel Theological Seminary, and received a Bachelor of Divinity in 1962. Ronald then became Protestant Chaplain at Zion National Park (June-September 1962). From here, Ronald received his Masters (1964) and his PhD (1967) in History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Ronald then returned to Wheaton as their Historical-Political Science Professor (1967-1969). But both Ronald and Ruth felt God leading them to California, where he taught at California State University Fullerton from 1969 to 2009. Ronald’s specialties included 19th Century American History (Civil War, Lincoln, Reconstruction), Church History and American Religious History.

From 1981-1984 Ronald served as an Academic Advisor to the White House Speech Writing Staff under President Ronald Reagan. Ronald lectured and wrote extensively on Lincoln and the American Civil War and was a member of the Historical Advisory and Content Team for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield Illinois. In addition, Ronald was an advisor to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission which established the 200th Celebration of Lincoln's birthday in 2009. Ronald loved to lead Civil War tours from California to the East Coast.

Ronald was very active in historical preservation all around his hometown, Pella, Iowa, as an advisor to the Pella Historical Society. Ronald has also extensively researched into the historical background of Pella including its founder Hendrick Pieter Scholte. One of the projects that brought him the most pride was the preservation of the Tuttle Cabin built in 1843, where he himself spent much of his time with his little Dutch grandma learning the Dutch language. Ronald imparted his vast knowledge of Pella history and passion for Dutch culture to the next generation by teaching each summer at Dutch Day Camp. He was known as "Doc" to his students. 

What characterized Ronald the most was his deep and all-abiding love of Jesus Christ and his commitment to serving him wherever, and whatever he was doing. Ronald accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1943 at the Open Bible Church in Pella. He then felt the direct call to ministry on May 23, 1956, at the Union Baptist Church, in Des Moines, where he felt the Lord specifically gave II Timothy, 4:1-8 to guide him.

When he later moved to California, Ronald faithfully attended the First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton from 1969 to 2022. Here, he served the Lord with all his heart as the sole Elder of the Church during the 1970s and as one of the main teachers of the Bykota Class for over five decades. Ronald was also affiliated with Formation Church in Brea (2020-2022). After the Rietveld’s returned to his birthplace in Pella, Iowa, they faithfully attended First Church.

Because of his love and commitment to Scripture, Ronald served on the translation committee for the New American Standard Bible, both in 1977 and in 1995.

One of the most pivotal moments in his life was when Ronald met Corrie ten Boom in 1974. After that, Corrie decided to become a direct part of his family, becoming “Tante Corrie”, inspiring him in his ministry at the university and opening up the avenue for him to stay at her home in Holland with Ruth in 1977 and his entire family in 1979. Because of Corrie, Ronald and Ruth would visit Holland almost every summer until 2010. After that, forging very close friendships with Corrie’s friends as well as his Dutch relatives.

What was near and dear to his heart were his students at the university. Teaching was his ministry, and the university was his mission field. Ronald poured his life into his students, focusing on teaching and in personal guidance over publishing of books. He had a strong conviction regarding this, believing it to be a living testimony—not pages in a book—that was his true calling!

Ronald was a man of profound kindness, gentleness, compassion, and love. He was always full of both wit and wisdom and you would often find him with a twinkle in his eye. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and Opa, and a faithful and true friend. Most of all, Ronald was a man full of faith and conviction in his Lord Jesus Christ and Savior—for him it was always “to God be the glory”!

Memorials may be given to the First Church - Pella, Iowa, or the Pella Preservation Trust.