Gladys S. Ray

Gladys S. RayBiidwewidamookweHear the Thunder Coming WomanGladys S. Ray, 73, Fargo, ND, died on Friday, February 24, 2006, in MeritCare Hospital, Fargo. Gladys Shingobe was born on January 3, 1933, near Mahnomen, MN, to Thomas and Mary Hutchinson Shingobe. She was a member of the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe Nation in Minnesota. She grew up near Mahnomen and graduated from the Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, SD, in 1951. She served in the U.S. Army Women's Medical Corps from January 10, 1952 until May 23, 1953. She worked at Deaconess Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, and then moved to Fargo. Gladys married Robert C. Ray on January 22, 1955, in Moorhead, MN, and they made their home in Fargo where she worked at the Veteran's Affairs Regional Medical Center until retiring in 1987.Gladys was a dedicated lifelong human rights advocate and volunteer, who served her community through involvement in many organizations and by assisting in the development of many programs. She advocated for all people, especially American Indians, children, and the homeless. She served as a mentor and advisor to many individuals and for many projects. She was instrumental in the development of Indian Education programs for Fargo Public Schools, The F-M Indian Center, Nokomis Daycare Center, Good Medicine Indian Health and the Ray of Hope Center. She was honored with many awards for her service including YWCA woman of the year, Sertoma Service to Mankind, the Human Rights Award, Red River Valley Heritage Society Excellence in Life in the Red River Valley Award, and the Minnesota Indian Education lifelong achievement award. She was honored at pow-wows by American Indian people several times.Gladys was devoted to sharing her love, wisdom and strength with all of her family, friends and all she knew. She is survived by three sons, Bruce A. Linda Hanson Ray, Alan D. Ray, and Terry L. Penny Peltier Ray, all of Fargo; two daughters, Mary A. Terry L. Curfman, Plymouth, MN, and Sandra J. Daniel E. Reynolds, Harwood, ND; a brother, Sylvester Shingobe, Wahpeton, ND; eight grandchildren, Stephanie, Candace, April, Amber, Travis, Shannon, Dillon, and Cassandra; and three great-grandchildren, Alexander, Tyler, and Lavina. She is also survived by a special friend, Dawn M. Seward, Moorhead, MN.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, one son, Charles Robert Ray, and five siblings, Wallace, Phillip, Rose, Ernest and James.Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, Rochester, MN, and Hospice of the Red River Valley.b Service Information /bA traditional wake will be held Monday evening, February 27, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. and a funeral ceremony on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., in the Mille Lacs Indian Community Center, District One, Onamia, MN across from the Grand Casino Mille Lacs.Interment will be Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., in the Oakwood Cemetery, Harwood, ND.A Memorial Gathering will be held Saturday, March 4, 2006, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m, with a brief Celebration of Gladys's life at 2:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.