Ronald Selmer Moen's Obituary
Ronald Selmer Moen died on May 12, 2025, surrounded by family in his home in Chesterfield MO. He had metastatic melanoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and dementia. We thank the wonderful team of Mercy Hospice for the compassionate care we received.
Ron was born September 15, 1939 in Larimore ND to Selmer and Elsie Moen. He grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Larimore HS in 1957, from Concordia College in 1961, and Purdue University in 1963 (with a master’s in Clinical Psychology).
In June 1964 Ron married Janet Amundson of Brooklyn NY. They lived in Chicago IL (three times), West Lafayette IN, Moorhead MN, Temple TX (twice), Waco TX, Kenilworth IL, Frontenac MO, and Chesterfield MO.
Ron is survived by his wife Jan, his sons Ronald Mark (Suellen) of Glenview IL, and Jon Andrew (Sharon) of Saint Louis MO, and three grandchildren AJ (Stacy) of Glen Ellyn IL, Paul (Kaitlyn) of Naperville IL, and Ellie of Nashville TN; his sister Millie MacLeod of Plant City FL, nieces Barb MacLeod of Delaware OH, and Mary Huntington (Mark) of Lakeland FL, and nephew Rob MacLeod of Austin TX.
Ron served as a school psychologist in Blue Island IL, a psychologist in the
Neuro-Psychiatric Institute in Fargo ND, a graduate school professor at both the
University of North Dakota in Grand Forks ND, and Moorhead State University in
Moorhead MN.
Ron was the Chief Psychologist and CEO of the Temple TX Bell County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center (MHMR), CEO of the Waco TX Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center (which grew from a one-county to a six-county MHMR), and he wrote the mental health accreditation standards for the Joint Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) in Chicago IL.
Ron was founding CEO of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) in Skokie, IL when that split from JCAH where he was executive director of their new accreditation program. He was CEO of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in St. Louis MO, and founded their private AAO Insurance Company. He also served as executive secretary-treasurer of the AAO Foundation and was the CEO of the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO). He was CEO for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in Chicago IL. In semi-retirement, Ron led the Washington DC office of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and was interim CEO for the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine
(SAEM) in Chicago IL.
Ron was president of the Chicago Society Association of Executives (CSAE), (now the Association Forum), where he and colleagues created the Holiday Showcase. He was a board member of the American Association of Executives (ASAE) in Washington DC. He served as president of Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston IL. He was a consensus builder - enabling volunteers and boards of directors to be the best they
could be. He always intended to write a book entitled “The Board Never Makes a Mistake”, with a wink for a subtitle.
Ron loved administering, teaching, counseling, and serving. He was a great listener.
He was well-respected for his leadership roles in his not-for-profit associations.
Ron loved his entire family and the many good friends from all the places he lived.
He was the first “outlaw” in the Amundson family, and that tradition continues two
generations later.
Ron loved Hawaii, especially art from Wyland. Hawaii was his favorite family vacation destination, where he and the boys loved scuba-diving. He made over 100 trips to Hawaii to accredit new ambulatory health care facilities on all the islands. He enjoyed the people and cultures of his world-wide travels. Ron loved good music, especially singing in his church choirs, listening to excellent organ, playing his trombone, attending the opera in many states, attending all symphonies - especially the St. Louis Symphony. He and Jan joined the community First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood MO, because of the wonderful music ministry with a Cassavant organ, and the great preaching.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday July 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 100 East Adams, Kirkwood, Missouri, officiated by Rev. Gary Noonan and Rev. Linda Machonachie.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest contributions in Ron’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church Music Ministry in Kirkwood MO, or to Concordia College in Moorhead MN, or to a charity of your choice.
Aquamation Services by Hughes Funeral Alternatives in St. Louis, Missouri. Friends and family can sign the family's online guestbook at www.HughesFA.com
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