Ronald Hustvedt Sr.

A most amazing father of two and wonderful grandfather of two. An impactful teacher and education leader. Woodworking extraordinaire and overall nice guy are all the ways that Ronald Clifford Hustvedt, Sr. has left his mark on our world over the past 83 years.

Known affectionately as “Husty,” a nickname given to him by students in his first year of teaching, he was a six-foot-three gentle giant who reminded many of the various roles actor John Candy played. Husty was big in real life, and could command the room, but he preferred to get things done behind the scenes and without much fanfare.

That’s how he lived his life right up to the end, which came peacefully on June 10, 2026 with family by his side. His preference was always for small gatherings of friends and family, and so it shall be for celebrating his life instead of a large memorial service or funeral.

Right up until the end, his will to live his best life and persevere through adversity kept him going. He went through a lot in recent years including a compound ankle fracture doctors said might end in amputation—he overcame that. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and brain bleed that had only a 30 percent chance of survival—he overcame that. He had constant atrial fibrillation and a controlled diagnosis of diabetes and didn’t let either get him down. What ultimately became too large an obstacle to overcome was the effects of a fall that left him with a broken hip. He did his best for three months, but as obstacles mounted, the decision to go on hospice care was made.

Husty had a lot to live for, especially his family that includes his daughter Anne of Maplewood and her partner Brian, his son Ron Jr. and daughter-in-law Sharon, and most of all his precious grandchildren Ronny (18) and Vivian (16) whom he loved spending time with and doing all sorts of projects. He was a caring and loving father who always had an open heart and mind, and was always gracious and giving. That's the kind of father he was — there when you needed him, and willing to step back when you needed room to find your own way.

He loved going on excursions, both large and small, with his family and loved the outdoors including hunting, fishing and camping with his children and grandchildren. He was an extremely talented woodworker who made thousands of pieces of furniture, all varieties of puzzles, classroom door stops, and pretty much anything he set his mind to. A constant tinkerer, his hobbies included rocketry, leatherwork, cartridge reloading, welding, jewelry making, and stained glass, just to name a few.

Those skills have passed down to his grandchildren and their hobbies include those same skills he taught them. His grandson, who is named after him, is an outdoor enthusiast who also loves woodworking. His granddaughter is a talented painter and artist of many mediums.

He is preceded in death by his wife Virginia “Ginger” Hustvedt of 53 years, his brother Richard Hustvedt of Minneapolis, and his parents Beulah and Clifford Hustvedt of Minneapolis. Ginger passed away six years before him and life without her was never the same although he did his best to stay positive and honor her legacy.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Husty grew up playing at Powderhorn Park near his childhood home on Longfellow Avenue two blocks off Lake Street. He graduated from Minneapolis South High in 1960--“barely graduated,” as he would say--and went to work as a janitor at the local bakery where his Mom worked. He met Ginger a year later and she compelled him to consider attending college if they wanted a future together and he obliged, graduating with an Elementary Education degree from St. Cloud State University in 1967.

He taught for the next 30 years in the Minneapolis Public Schools, 20 of those years at Seward Elementary and the final 10 years at Anne Sullivan K-8. The guy who almost didn’t make it out of high school would go on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from St. Thomas University.

Husty was not afraid to stand up for what was right, as evidenced early in his career when he joined the fight for teacher rights in the historic, illegal 20-day teacher strike in 1970 that fundamentally altered Minnesota labor law. From there, he channeled that same commitment into supporting educators from the inside, helping create the Minneapolis Teacher Relicensure committee and serving as chair of that committee his entire career. His signature was required on all teaching license renewal forms for every Minneapolis teacher for 30 years, not to mention hundreds of other people whom the Minnesota Department of Education sent his way in the summer months because of his commitment to serving educators.

The subjects he taught included everything from science to social studies, math to English. When school didn’t have a wood shop, Husty would bring in his scroll saws, belt sanders and hand tools so students could learn how to properly create their own woodworking projects. He mentored numerous teachers and student teachers throughout his career and was an educational pioneer who did what was great for students without seeking any limelight for it. The Star Tribune even did a feature on a class he created titled “Reality Bites” where students new to middle school were given a careful orientation to writing, organization, collaboration, inquiry and reading skills.

Being the kind of student who struggled in school helped make him the kind of teacher who could connect with students that other teachers deemed “difficult” and “hard to reach.” Many of those students would say he was mean in one breath and proclaim he was their favorite teacher in the next. One of Husty’s most favorite phrases was, “The meaner I am, the more money I make.”

He loved puns, spoonerisms, telling jokes, practical jokes on other teachers and building the kind of classroom students loved to be part of. He literally built a “climber” for his classroom where students would hangout for reading time and story time and he always had several classroom pets including rabbits, hamsters, snakes and other critters. Most famously, he had an 11-foot python, 9-foot python and 6-foot boa constrictor all at the same time.

When he retired in 1998, he and Ginger moved up to the Brainerd Lakes Area and he went from being the famous teacher “Husty” to being known as “Ginger’s husband”—a title he cherished. They were both active members of the Nisswa Lions and while she helped run the organization, he enjoyed the more quiet title of “Gambling Manager” running the pulltab operation and building the annual parade floats.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, Husty would prefer that people dedicate themselves to bringing a young person outdoors or spending time with them building something with their hands.

Contact the family at 651-335-2385 or email writeoutdoors@mac.com for questions about his memorial.