Lyall D. Ryden

It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to one of the most passionate men that many of us had the pleasure and honor to know. Lyall DeWayne Ryden of Denver, Colorado, passed away on January 21, 2017, at the age of 85 while in Palm Springs, California.

Lyall was born on August 10, 1931, in Platteville, Colorado, on the kitchen table, to Angie Fern (Pearson) Ryden and David Swan Ryden. He was the youngest of six children (Armada Laurel, Alzora Caroline, Oliver 'Bud' David, Jack Vern, and Betty Agnes) and a third-generation Coloradoan. He was the last surviving grandchild of Oliver and Mable Pearson, early Weld County settlers and community leaders.

Lyall had a very happy childhood. As the youngest, he was adored and spoiled by his mother, grandparents, and siblings. He had many joyful years with his three nieces, Armada's daughters, that were close in age to Lyall. He often showed up at their house with comic books and a willingness to perform in a play. In 1940, when Lyall was nine, he saw the original showing of "Gone with the Wind" four times in one day. His mother called the police to look for him. He also saw the Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field in the summer of 1945. Lyall was spending the summer with his sister Betty and her future husband Ed in Chicago. He said the summer with Betty was what movies are written after; it was so great. It was the best time in his life until his daughters came along. The Cubs made it to the World Series that year but lost. Lyall sat on the front porch of his grandparents' home with his brother Jack and listened to the game. This was the year that World War II came to an end and he entered junior high school. On his first day of school he met his lifelong friends Don Rouch and Dave Zink.

Lyall played basketball and baseball in high school. He was a left-handed fast pitcher. He graduated from Gilcrest High School in 1950. He served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955. He served in San Francisco (where he fell in love with jazz music); Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and spent a summer on the U.S.S. Furst Destroyer in the Mediterranean. He always said how lucky he was to have been stationed in such wonderful places!

After serving in the Navy, Lyall went to California and began working as a big equipment operator. He contracted the Polio virus in 1955 which nearly killed him. His mother and sister Alzora came immediately to his aide. They cared for him non-stop using non-traditional methods to ensure that he would survive. He lost his big, boisterous voice and muscle-man physic but didn't give up. Lyall returned to Greeley, Colorado, and with his mother's help he opened his first health club (The Greeley Athletic Club) and health food store. He continued to rebuild his body after Polio.

Lyall was studying under the GI bill at Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado). He graduated with degrees in Business, Economics, and Political Science. He then met the love of his life and best friend, Patricia Jean TeMaat. When Patricia met Lyall, he was driving a 1957 Corvette and introduced her to martinis and jazz music! They were married on December 30, 1961. Lyall always thought that Patricia was the most beautiful and kindest woman that he knew. They enjoyed more smiles than tears in their 55 years together.

They had three daughters; Romie Marie, Ramona Mariette, and Ronna Monic. Lyall was a man ahead of his generation in how he cared for, was committed to, and provided an unparalleled, unconditional love for his wife and daughters. He not only showed up for every event that they participated in but he was their greatest cheerleader. His daughters were all competitive swimmers growing up and he would run alongside the pool for every length that they swam cheering them on! Lyall defined what it meant to be an involved father.

Lyall was a serial entrepreneur and luckily Patricia was committed to this lifestyle and became his partner in all of the endeavors that he brought to fruition. He sold hearing aids and invented a battery charger for them. They owned and operated 15 health clubs throughout Colorado and into New Mexico over a 30-year period including The Greeley Athletic Club, Slim & Swim Club, Greeley Athletic & Racquet Club, and Patricia J's Women's Spas. They also sold a line of health food products called Lyall D. Ryden's Feel Super. Lyall was inspired by the American fitness icon, Jack LaLanne. He was also a member of Sertoma (Service to Mankind) and the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness).

Their businesses included The House of Reubens (Greeley), inventor of a lower back and abdominal muscle exercise equipment, protein drink bars, a frozen yogurt and chili restaurant (Vail), an insurance coop for health clubs, tanning salons, and toning salons (nationwide), a tanning salon (Vail), Your Gambling Connection transportation company (Blackhawk & Central City), A Charter Company (Denver) which was the Democratic National Convention's 2008 Official Transportation Provider.

Lyall was a very passionate person. He didn't hold back in expressing himself when he liked (and disliked) something. His catch-phrase was, "How great it is!" A short list of his passions included family, friends, The Denver Broncos (season passholders for 50+ years), skiing (Vail season passholders from the early 1970s through the 1990s), travelling, jazz music, dancing, martinis, parties, cooking, coffee, Colorado, San Francisco, dogs, CU Buffalo football (season passholders for 10 years in the 1970s), houseboating, camping, organizing, and on and on.

Lyall authored and published two books. "Senior Health 101, Move More, Eat Less" (2013) and "Book of Quotes by the Famous & Not So Famous Including Health Hints for a Healthy Life" (2016). He was known as "The Great Swedish Philosopher" by those that knew him well. He had said that he had never failed at anything in his life; however, he had discovered 100,000 ways that things didn't work and kept moving forward.

Lyall and Patricia travelled extensively throughout the world, visiting the Great Wall of China and the Fjord in the Baltic Sea in the same year. They passed through the Panama Canal and swam around the tip of South America with the penguins of Patagonia. They danced the tango with gauchos in Argentina. They laughed and loved under the Eiffel Tower in Paris and on a gondola in Venice. They posed at the Acropolis in Greece and prayed at the Vatican in Rome. He stood in the crown of Lady Liberty during the bi-centennial and no matter where they travelled in the world he couldn't wait to come home to Colorado in the great United States of America. Their travels allowed them to meet wonderful people and see amazing sights. Their compassion for others allowed them to enjoy every place they visited. Their kindness towards everyone they met is truly a gift and a trait to be followed. A favorite place with years of memories was Vail. They were one of the original owners at the Vail Racquet Club where they shared their condos with hundreds of family and friends throughout 25 years.

He leaves behind a legacy of how to love unconditionally. Lyall is survived by his soulmate and wife Patricia; daughters and son-in-laws, Romie Ryden & Travis Bowyer (Lakewood, Colorado), Ramona Ryden & Ron Siebert (Avon, Colorado), Ronna & David Dockstater (Ft. Collins, Colorado); six grandchildren, Jocelyn Alaine & Zachary Ryden Bowyer, Trevi Skye & Axel Roman Siebert, Mazie Snow & Sawyer Leo Dockstater; a great-grandchild, Makaio Lyall Bowyer; and his extended family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, great-great-nieces and -nephews, and friends - too numerous to mention but no less important.

He is preceded in death by his father David Ryden; his mother Angie Ryden Gay; his sisters Armada, Alzora, and Betty; his brothers Oliver 'Bud' and Jack.

Lyall was fun, loving, caring, generous, and beyond compare! He lived every day of his life! Please honor kindness to others and taking care of yourself in memory of Lyall.

A celebration of Lyall's life is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at 11 a.m., at Newcomer Funeral Home - West Metro Chapel, 901 South Sheridan Blvd, Lakewood, Colorado. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Blvd, Denver.

To share a memory of Lyall or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.