Loretta Jane Ring, 89, of Falcon Heights, died July 31, two days before her 90th birthday.
Loretta was born in Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 2, 1925. After training at the Jane Lamb Hospital, she became a nurse in 1947. She met John Ring in Clinton, where he was recovering from injuries incurred while serving in World War II. They married in 1947.
After she graduated from Macalester College 1963, she started a second career, working for 26 years as an elementary teacher in St. Paul Public Schools.
Ice hockey became a passion and almost a third career. She started playing at age 47 with a group of Roseville women and continued playing with the University of Minnesota Club Team and the Flyers Women’s Team until age 81 (and was featured in a short TPT documentary).
Loretta was a great hockey advocate, recruiting, coaching and inspiring girls and women of all ages. She received the Joe Burke Award from USA Hockey, plus Hall of Fame Awards from the Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota and the Minnesota High School Coaches Association.
She started the Jane Ring/Sue Ring-Jarvi Girls’/Women’s Hockey Fund in 1997, which awards two scholarships annually to high school senior girl hockey players. She co-sponsored the Blue J’s, Bandits, J Hawks and other women’s teams. In addition, she worked with Macalester College to create the school’s Women’s Hockey Club and funded its first years.
Her computer provided satisfyingly fast contact with her beloved family and friends nationwide. She was also an avid contract bridge player and will be missed by several groups.
For decades, she worked with her dear friends in the PEO Sisterhood group on projects to help provide education to girls in need.
She was preceded in death by her brother, John Yourd, and sister, Lee Fitts. She is survived by her husband, John; daughter, Sue Ring-Jarvi (Roland); son, Steven Ring (Molly Redmond); and two grandsons.
A memorial service was held at New Life Presbyterian Church, Roseville, where she had been an active member. Burial will be private at a later time.
Memorials are preferred to the Jane Ring/Sue Ring-Jarvi Girls’/Women’s Hockey Fund.
