Blythe Ahlstrom

Obituary

Callis Blythe Ahlstrom passed away in his home on August 28, 2019. Born October 1, 1933 to Mary Porritt and Glenn Ahlstrom in Elsinore, Utah; he was the first boy, after three older sisters. His siblings and their spouses were Glenna and Milton Page, Jean and Floyd Scott, Jolene and Ted Weight, and Gary and Velma Ahlstrom. Blythe was the last surviving child.

As a young man in Ogden, Blythe enjoyed the outdoors. He loved hiking, skiing and scouting; these became life-long passions. He earned his Eagle Scout and was thrilled when his son and grandsons followed him into the Eagle’s Nest. One grandson insisted that Grandpa was the world’s best hiker.

Blythe graduated from Weber High School in 1952, then began college at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. After his freshman year he and his buddies drove to Alaska and found work fighting forest fires. At the end of the summer, he received a surprising letter from his LDS bishop notifying him that he had been chosen to represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a mission. He served for two years in Texas.

Upon his return, Blythe continued his education at USAC, where he also enrolled in ROTC. He studied US History. At college, he met and fell in love with Anne Tueller. They were married in the Logan, Utah, Temple on March 20, 1957. Their sweet love story has lasted 62 years.

Blythe graduated in 1958. Anne presented him with his first-born child, Susan, as a graduation present. A few months later the little family set off for the Big Apple and graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, they gained an appreciation for performing and fine arts, which lasted the rest of their lives. After a year, they moved to New Jersey where Blythe continued his graduate research at Rutgers University. In 1962, a son, Jon, was a welcome addition to the family.

Beginning in 1962, Blythe served his country as an Army Intelligence Officer at the Pentagon. He was assigned to the Cuba desk shortly after the Bay of Pigs. During that time his third child, Evelyn, was born during cherry blossom season at George Washington’s Plantation at Fort Belvoir.

In 1964, Utah State University recruited Blythe as a professor of American History. He was a natural teacher, popular professor, and well respected by his colleagues. Many nieces and nephews came to study at Utah State, and invariably found themselves at the Ahlstrom home for dinner and parties. Blythe felt that his university career was going well and expected to remain in Logan indefinitely.

In 1971, Blythe’s colleague and friend, Stanford Cazier, accepted a new position as President of Chico State College in northern California. Stan asked Blythe to move his family to Chico and offered him the position of Executive-Assistant. Blythe and Anne accepted the new adventure.

The Ahlstrom family loved their time in California. Blythe and Anne had many opportunities to be community and church leaders. Blythe primarily served in the Young Men and Scouting programs. During this time, they opened their home to two foster children. The college matured to a university, and Blythe perfected his diplomatic abilities to listen to multiple sides of issues, negotiate with opposing parties, and help everyone feel respected and heard. For example, he represented Chico State at the California Board of Regent meetings, negotiated with angry students about armed university security, and orchestrated the safe removal of a beaver dam from campus.

The Chico chapter closed when Dr. Cazier returned to Logan as president of USU in the fall of 1979, bringing Blythe, his valuable right-hand. The Ahlstrom family moved back to Logan where Blythe worked as a USU administrator and continued teaching until his retirement in 2002. Blythe continued to serve his church and community in Logan. He served as bishop and counselor for a USU student ward. Stake, ward, community and university sought his expertise for working with youth and young adults. He always considered himself college-student age, because they were his peers. The three children all went on missions to Latin America, graduated from USU, and married in the Logan Temple. Evelyn brought home a teenager from Guatemala, Julio, who became another son.

Family meant everything to Blythe. He was the best father, grandfather, and favorite uncle; always ready to play any game, walk a child to the bus or quiet a child’s outbursts in a busy restaurant. Grandpa could calm any crying baby, upset child or bored teenager. People were naturally drawn to his fun-loving personality and sense of humor. He seemed to have a special private joke with everyone. He was the first person to call when contemplating important decisions or how to handle a difficult situation. He would fly or drive across the country for baptisms, graduations, and school performances.

In retirement, Blythe and Anne, went on humanitarian trips to Guatemala and Indonesia. They traveled to Europe, Japan and across the United States to visit family. Blythe volunteered as President of the Logan Red Cross and board member for the Friends of the Logan Library, Logan Historical Preservation Commission, and USU Merrill-Cazier Library. Blythe and Anne’s home has always been open to people who needed a little extra help. They have provided a home for numerous family members attending school, young people experiencing difficult circumstances, returning children, foster children, and grandchildren.

Blythe continued to pursue his passions for running, hiking and skiing until the age of 83. His grandchildren and children have great memories of Grandpa teaching them to ski and hiking the mountains. The family has fond memories of attending museums, musicals, plays and musical performances together. They donated time and money to USU, community arts and libraries.

Blythe Ahlstrom is survived by his wife, Anne, his children and their spouses: Susan and Wesley Stonehocker, Jon and Nanette Ahlstrom, Evelyn and Robert Cohn, and Julio and Marissa Pineda; his grandchildren and spouses, Philip Henderson, Kara Henderson, Claire and Nicholas Folts, Sarah and Joshua Vaughan, Peter Ahlstrom, Rachel Cohn, Matthew Cohn, Ellen Pineda, Calvin Pineda, Gloria Pineda, Blythe Pineda, Evelyn Pineda; and his first great-granddaughter, Grace Vaughan.

Memorial Service held Saturday, August 31, 2019. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University.