Kathy Ring

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Columbus First United Methodist Church at 2710 14th Street in Columbus, NE. Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus, NE, is in charge of arrangements.

Kathy was born on September 13, 1952, in Gregory County to Dale and Betty (Barr) McIntyre where she was raised on a family farm south of Gregory, SD.

In 1970, Kathy graduated from Gregory High School. In 2001, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health and Substance Abuse, and later a Master’s Degree, both from the University of South Dakota.

In her earlier years, she lived a life full of change and experiences, living in various places and welcoming her son Darin in 1972. On September 19, 1981, she married her love, Merle Ring, and later welcomed their son Lance and daughter Stacy. They lived in Colome, SD, for most of their lives before moving to Columbus, NE, in 2004.

Kathy had various jobs throughout her life including social worker, owner of the Longhorn Tavern with her husband, and fulfilling her lifelong passion of becoming a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. She worked for several years at Catholic Charities in Columbus before opening her own business.

Kathy enjoyed playing golf, coaching her daughter’s softball team in grade school, leading 4-H, and helping on the family pig farm. In Kathy’s later years, her happiest memories were spending time with all her grandchildren and attending every event of theirs that she could. One thing Kathy’s children and grandchildren could always count on, was to receive a phone call from her on each of their birthdays, with Kathy singing “Happy Birthday” in her most excited, happy voice—a tradition that will be missed immensely.

Kathy’s faith was important to her and helped her stay sober for 45 years. Kathy was a member of the Winner Methodist Church in Winner, SD, and the United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Kathy S. Ring, 72, of Columbus, NE, passed away on June 7, 2025, at The Grace Place in Lincoln, NE. Kathy is survived by her husband, Merle; her sons Darin (Michele) Byrnes of Lincoln, NE, Lance (Amanda) Ring of York, NE, and daughter Stacy (Zach) Frank of Lincoln, NE; sister- in-law Linda (Jerry) Price of Rockford, IL; sister-in-law Becky Messick of Mitchell, SD; nine grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Betty McIntyre; brothers, Don, John, and Tevis, and sister, Betty Ann “Annie” Marts.

In lieu of flowers, the family will be designating memorial contributions to an organization meaningful to Kathy.