Who Is Cheryl Ryning?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Who Is Cheryl Ryning?

Let’s see, I was born in the 50’s, no not 1850! The 1950’s, loll. In Oakland, CA. To 2 wonderful parent’s, Ernest and Mary DuMonte. Dad was born in Kansas, and Mom in Utah. Not much was ever known about Dad’s side of the family. But Mama always told us he was Heinz 57. Mama on the other hand was a full blooded Swede, with the family history tracked back to the 1500’s. I have in recent year’s tracked down some family history on my Dad’s side though. Seem’s I am German, English, Cherokee possibly, and 1/2 Swedish. Sheesh, what a combination!

My Dad was orphaned as a child for a few year’s, Grandma left to get work as a Harvey Girl. She left dad with a family, but then stopped sending money for his keep. So they turned him over to the sheriff. His father had no work so he ended up in the orphange. I cried when he shared his first recollection of his mom. He said this beautiful blonde babe blew into the orphange, kissed him on the forehead, gave him a little toy car and then left. Growing up all I knew were the stories he shared. Before Grandma passed, she gave me a photo album with pictures back to the 1800’s, and a bunch of letters. Dad had never seen them…

After my Dad passed, I delved into the stuff Grandma had left me. I cried when I realized that many of the letters were from my Dad as a child. He was begging her for another car and just wanted to be with her, he promised he would be a good boy. I also have pictures he drew for her, what a treasure! I pieced together many other things about my upbringing, and WHY Dad was such a “Get an education” nut.

She eventually ended up in Ohio, and had hooked with Bob DuMonte (aka Marmon De Mott). A nice family was trying to adopt Dad but she intervined and had him sent to Toledo. Toledo was filled with some of the most famous gangster’s at that time, Dad could tell some tale’s about that. They eventually ended up in San Fransico. Dad dealt with a drunken, abusive step dad till he was 15. Dad had had enough! He knocked him down the stair’s in the 3 story walkup and never looked back. He got the cleaning route in the whore house district, and had to carry a 357 magnum to keep it!

Mom was raised in a very loving, close family. Grandma was a home maker, and Grandpa was an engineer with Union Pacific. They grew up a mile apart in Sweden and never met till they came to this country. And Grandpa was so proud to be here that he Americanized the family name, Danielson was changed to Daniels! And you ONLY spoke English in public. Mom was taught great moral’s and was a straight A student.

It’s said that behind every great man, is a great woman. And I truly believe that. My Dad was a great, successful, self made man. He wanted more out of life than what he had been taught growing up. First and formost to him was education. I think his first “AHA” moment was a date. He was invited to a formal dinner by a very nice young lady. He was so embassed because he had no idea what all that silverware was for! So… he waited, and observed. He did everything exactly as the other’s did. He never forgot what each piece of silverware was for. And believe me, we were taught at the dinner table. Every night was a proper dinner at the dining room table.

Unlike my beautiful Mom, Dad didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. He only graduated high school. But he became an outrageous reader. I always remember him reading at least one hour a day. Mom and Dad both really encouraged that in our home. I think one of their biggest purchase’s was a set of Collier’s Encyclopedia’s and the Webster’s Dictionary when I was born. And growing up I was forced to use them regularly, lol. I am 63 and still have those book’s today, and despite all the use they are still in mint condition! We were taught to cherish books, never allowed to dog ear the pages or write in them. 

I guess some might say they were an odd combination. A woman raised in a very main stream, loving family who never spanked the kid’s. And an orphaned boy who had to learn everything on his own. But they were undoubtably an awesome team at raising us. We were taught moral’s, respect, and a thirst for learning. They didn’t always agree when it came to discipline, but NEVER argued in front of us kid’s. That was in their room after our bedtime. I did catch them a time or two though, lol. Mom was the ultimate loving Mother, and Dad was the ultimate loving disciplanarian. What a great team!

I feel so blessed for the legacy they gave me. My Mom was an optimist and Dad tended to be a pestimist, but they balanced each other out. I think I got the best of both world’s. I have my Mom’s optomistic, loving heart, and my Dad’s pesstimistic, analytical mind. And when I get hurt, confused and ANGRY, I put myself on timeout! Can you imagine a 63 yr. old woman on restriction? Yea, well it does happen here, lol. It wasn’t always that way, I used to have a really bad temper. That will make you an idiot! Now if I am hurt, angry, or even sick, I am on time out.

Stay tuned folks, there’s more to come…Juicy, drama, and probably down right shocking. Sometimes I think my life could be a drama mini series shocker! But I teamed up with some awesome internet marketing people. (TeamTissa) They have led me to reach out and tell my story in the hope’s that I can help someone else. I do have an online presence, transparency is key. So now is my time to shine, share, and my biggest wish is to help someone by sharing my story. To make a difference in someone’s life.