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Lois F. Ring

Lois Ring

KINGSFORD — Lois F. Ring, My Mother died on Oct. 16, 2017, at Evergreen Assisted Living in Kingsford. However, it is more accurate to say that she “stopped living” on Feb. 8, 2013, the day my father died. She survived almost five years with a broken heart.

Mom was born on March 2, 1931, the second child of Ralph and Mildred Verley of Quinnesec. She graduated in 1949 from Kingsford High School. Somewhere along the way a good friend of hers introduced her to a young man from Iron Mountain named Bruce Ring. I don’t know if it was love at first sight, but it certainly was a match made in heaven. True and absolute love that went on to survive the test of time. They married in February 1950, eventually bought a house in Quinnesec and became life-long residents of the area.

I came along in 1957, followed in 1965 by Jeffrey. She was a “stay at home mom.” She crocheted and knit; cooked and baked. She led 4-H groups and she sewed Halloween costumes. She went to PTA meetings, made cupcakes for school and attended piano recitals. She took daily coffee breaks with her friend and neighbor Marilyn Struebing. Most of all, she loved and cared for her family and friends.

She worked for a brief time for Breitung Township at the Town Hall in Quinnesec. In the early 70s, she and Dad built their dream home on Moon Lake. Around that time she went to work as a dental assistant for Dr. Paul Jacobs in the building across from the State Police Post on U.S. 2. She also worked for Dr. Ted Fornetti for many years.

I went off to the Army and Jeff went off to college. Mom and Dad sold the house on Moon Lake and lived for 17 years in the apartments on Fairbanks Street. During that time Dad retired and they started spending their winters in Arizona eventually buying a place in Golden Vista RV Park in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Mom turned in to a Pool Shark, taking the Golden Vista Ladies Title several years in a row. She made coffee for the entire complex every morning. She spent time by the pool and in the jacuzzi, played golf, and watched golf on TV. She loved the Michigan State basketball team. She played bingo every Monday night and attended an ice cream social every Tuesday night. We celebrated Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary at the park and also grandma Verley’s 100th birthday.

The summers were spent in Iron Mountain and they eventually bought the condo in Pine Mountain Village across from the ski slide. Mom served on the board for the association and also became the chief pest control officer, spraying for bugs and ants while sporting a neon orange T-shirt that said PMV PEST CONTROL on it. She loved every minute of it. She was the “One in Charge.” We called her “Commandant Lois.” If something needed to be done or planned, she was who we turned to.

Lois was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and loved the Lord her Savior. He gave her a life of love and family and I know he was there with her in the end to guide her.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband and true love, Bruce Erland Ring; her parents, Ralph and Mildred “Brownie” (Tippett) Verley; and by her older brother, Ralph “Putz” Verley.

She is survived by her children, daughter Kathy Terese Ring Meyers; son, Jeffrey Bruce (Karen) Ring; four grandchildren, Heather Ring, Jamie Ring, Joshua Ring and Ruthie Grace Ring. She is also survived by her younger siblings, Norman (Evelyn) Verley, Della Marie (Ron) VanAlstine and Susan (Chuck) Kempf. Also by many in-laws, including Ray and Alice Person, and many, many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home.

Memorial services will follow at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Rev. Jim Nephew will officiate.

Burial will be in Dickinson County Memorial Gardens.

Special thanks to my Aunt Susie — I could not have survived these last several years without you. To my very good friend Aaron — you gave me strength when I had none. To Rick and Cassy — for making me a part of your family, even when I didn’t want to be. To Dr. Paul Hayes — you truly care; and to Evergreen, a place of peace, love and support. I love you Mom, — Kat.

Condolences to the family of Lois Ring may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.