April 1991
page 9
Walking On: Tribute to a Proud Warrior
Smoke Signals
"Life is very short...
and there's no time...
For fussing and fighting...
My friend..."
- John Lennon
By Brent Merrill
The thing that I hear people say most about Monte
Ring was that it was an honor to know him. Truly, it was
an honor to know a man like Monte. In Grand Ronde,
our little corner of the world will never be the same.
Monte believed in the Tribal youth. He believed in
them even when they didn't believe in themselves. He
championed their cause and held the torch that led the
way to a life of sobriety and love.
Monte was a very proud member of the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde and he was very proud of
his Native American heritage. He was especially proud
of our Tribal elders. He was always the first one to
remind us all that the elders deserved the best that we
could give them.
Monte had dedicated his life to "his people." If there
is something noble about people who dedicated their life
to serving their fellow man then, Monte Ring was the
noblest man I have ever known. He was not a saint, and
he would have been the first one to tell you that. But,
Monte was a good man with a true heart and a passion
for helping others through their troubled times. That
was his gift.
Monte is remembered fondly by those who worked
with him in his cause. "He had a strong self-esteem but
he was very humble in his role in life . . .," said JoAnna
Rogers. Rogers is the director at Nanitch Sahallie
Youth Treatment Center where Monte was Clinical
Manager. "That humbleness didn't always come out but
it was so evident here that he could not only give to the
kids but also gain from them."
One client at Nanitch Sahallie talked about how
Monte had faith in him when no one else did. "We
would talk about making it through treatment. I didn't
think that I could make it, and he always believed I
could make it. That helped me out. He taught me to
express myself and understand that I wasn't the only
person going through this experience.
Randy Butler was hired by Monte and took over his
position as director of the alcohol and drug program
when Monte went to Nanitch. Randy remembers Monte
as being friendly and open when they first met. "He
taught me how to meet people and other things about
my job because he knew I wanted to work in the field.
He wished that he could be strong enough to help his
clients with all their problems and to give them the
direction that they so badly needed. You could just feel
the emotion. Sometimes you could see the tears in his
eyes."
Monte Ring will be greatly missed by everyone that
he came into contact with; The people at Nanitch
Sahallie, the people in Grand Ronde, his family, his wife
and children.
We thank the creator for letting us have this proud
warrior as long as he did.
"He had a strong self-esteem but he was very
humble in his role in life..."
- Jo Anna Rogers
41
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Monte Richard Ring
Monte Richard Ring, 52, clinical director of alcohol
and drug treatment for Native American youth at
Nanitch Sahallie in Keizer, died March 7 in Portland.
He was born Sept. 19, 1938 in Prospect, Ore., the son
of George W. and Frances V. (Russell) Ring Jr. He
married Clytie June Jones in 1967 in Talent, Ore.
Survivors in addition to his wife and parents are sons
Michael Ring Newnham of Bend, Jesse Ring Ncwnham
of Medford, Brent and Mark Ring, both of Salem, and
Allen Lindgren; daughters, Annalea Ring Haskctt and
Rebecca Ring Morgan, of Medford, Debbie Lee of
Portland, Janene Lee of Washington and Maria Morgan
also of Medford; sisters Patricia Hoopingarner of Grand
Ronde, Georgene Shafer of Eagle Point and Mary Ring
of Chiloquin; brother, Michael Ring of Prospect, and 23
grandchildren.
A daughter, Lynn Wheeler, preceded him in death in
1980.
Services were held at the Grand Ronde Church of the
Nazarene with interment at the Grand Ronde Tribal
Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Oregon Children's
Fund for the prevention of child abuse.