Memories of Chris, Clint and Jim

The following are comments and pictures from those who were touched by Chris Ritz, Clint Reger and Jim Bradshaw. If you have anything you would like to share, send your memories, stories and pictures to bfrance@lassennews.com

I went to high school with Chris Ritz, and was just asking someone I know if he still worked for MLF, I can't believe this, and he will be missed, a funny guy who always carried a smile and a kind heart.

Tanya Dronoff

Class of 89

Continual thoughts and prayers to the families of these men who spent their lives caring for others.

Linda Hunt

Dear Chris - I have so many wonderful memories of you and am so surprised that you have left us so soon.

I send up this short poem as a way to mark this time. I love you sweet man.

Aunt Cate

Requiem

Schucman

...

Because I love you I would have you go.

Becaue I love Him I can scarcely weep.

Becaue He loves you glory goes with you,

And in that glory you but seem to sleep.

He came in mercy. Let me give Him thanks

You stayed with us until you saw Him smile

And tell you it is finished. He will come

For me that way in just a little while.

It is for this I wait, in certainty

That He Who made the stars will not forget.

I will be glad to see Him smile at me,

or if He choose, to wait a little yet.

This photo was taken in July 2008. My husband and I took the kids on a family vacation. This was the first time my children, Jessica, Michael, and Andrew met Chris and Kenton. Joe, Chris' father and I are 1st cousins. It had been several years since I had seen Chris. Chris and Kenton showed my kids how to play the Wii. It was a short visit but we had a great time.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends over the loss of the Mountain Life Flight crew. Their dedication and service to the health and safety of the community will never be forgotten.

Mercy Flights, Inc.

Medford, OR

To the family of Chris Ritz: I can not put into words the sorrow I feel for your families. I have known Chris for 20+ years and seems just like yesterday we were on the High School bus riding towards some meet. Chris was such a wonderful person and great father. He will be missed. Kenton always know your dad loved you and revolved his world around you. Sue and Joe you should be proud of the son you raised. God Bless and we love you.

Chris, I miss you. I am proud to have grown up with you. I am lucky to be able to call you my friend.

Tina Gorbet-Celis

To the family of Clint Reger: I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I could take your pain away. I have known Clint for over 10 years and come to know your family very well. Clint was a great man, devoted father and husband. He will be missed. Megan if you need anything please call. Cheryl and Dave, your son was outstanding! Matthew and Evan your father loved you and will continue to watch over you. God Bless you and we Love you.

The Celis Family

Clint you left us too early. We still had sooo much to do. How will I perfect my swing with out you here to show me. I am going to miss you so much!

Tina Gorbet-Celis

Twenty -two years ago, my infant daughter made one of your flights from Susanville to Reno. Without Dr. Meadows and your staff, she would not be here today, to raise her own new son. It matters that you all know how many, many lives have been changed for what they do. We are deeply saddened by the loss today.

Wendy (Dolphay) Caldwell
Balch Springs, Texas

I was saddened to learn of the death of Clint. I attended GracelandUniversity’s School of Nursing and he was in many of my classes. While most of the classes we shared were online, there was one which was in person, called the Focus Class. I remember him speaking fondly of being a flight nurse and how much he liked nursing. He also spoke of his family and how much he cared about them. There was a riddle in the class where the instructor gave clues and he was the first to figure out the answer to the riddle. He was part of my Health Assessment Team at the focus group and helped me understand some of the processes related to evaluating the medical conditions of people. We both finished our BSN work in August, though he wanted to get his Master’s in Nursing. I am still in shock about his death and send my thoughts and prayers to his family. What a horrible loss this is.

Charlee Redick, R.N., L.I.S.W.

Personal Counselor

GracelandUniversity

1 University Place

Lamoni, IA50140

I am a friend of Clint Reger’s from his years at the University of Louisville. All of Clint’s college friends remember his warmth and ready smile. He brightened people’s day just by being himself. While I lost touch with Clint until recently when we reconnected on Facebook, it is clear that his caring and compassion continued to positively affect everyone he touched. He was and remains a true hero! My thoughts and prayers are with Clint’s family and the families of Chris Ritz and Jim Bradshaw - the other heroes who were lost.

Karen Petko

Although I now live in Alabama I check the web site for the Lassen County Times to keep up on my friends and the news - I was saddened to read about Chris Ritz - I worked with his Mom at Sierra Army Depot and my husband had him on his Team in Soccer…..our thoughts and prayers are out to the families….what a terrible thing to happen to our friends….

Ruth Dowden
Field Office Assistant
Demopolis Site Office

Demopolis, AL 36732

I will remember Clint as a good friend and coworker. He served for a good portion of my time as youth pastor at Community Church and he was one of the most faithful guys. Many times he would come to youth group in his classic truck dressed in his blue flight suit ready to go out on a call if need be. I appreciated that about Clint. It would have been easy to just stay at the hangar but he made the sacrifice to go out of his way to hang out with a bunch of high school students who needed to hear about Jesus.

It's bittersweet to say goodbye but my prayer is that the man who Clint was will be the men his sons will become and that his legacy for Christ will live on through them.

Clint's greatest hope has been realized. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 and following.

Steve Schlange

We are saddened by the loss of people on the Mountain LifeFlight. The services provided by these dedicated people are phenomenal. Our thoughts are with the families.

Sincerely,
Board of Directors
The Stones Bengard Community Service District

I send my deepest thoughts and prayers to all the families who lost a

loved one this last weekend in the tragic LifeFlight crash. I especially

send my thoughts and prayers to the family of Chris Ritz as I have known

Chris since we graduated together from Lassen High School and also

worked with his father at Lassen County Juvenile Hall. God Bless Joe and

Sue Ritz and their family!

Matthew DeBoer

We are deeply saddened to hear of the helicopter crash in which Jim Bradshaw, Clint Reger and Chirs Ritz died. Although we did not know the men personally we are acquainted with Jim Bradshaw’s family in Carson City, Nevada and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of their son and brother, Jim. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the families of Clint and Chris.
Brooke and David Nielsen

Carson City, Nevada

Mountain Lifeflight 3

One of the privileges of growing older, and yes there are some, is that you get to meet some very special people. In the early morning of November 14th two exceptional people whom I had the joy of knowing, lost their lives saving a life.

If I had known Jim Bradshaw I am sure I would have been touched by his life also but it was Clint Reger and Chris Ritz that left me with many special memories.

For almost two decades I had heard from Clint’s Grandma how exceptional he was, I thought, “ok” but he’s your grandson. It only took a few moments after he began working in my office at Mountain Lifeflight to see that she was right. He was a young man but he had already acquired wisdom and integrity beyond his years. I enjoyed watching as he grew as a husband, father, medical professional and as a man of God.

Chris may not have impressed me as quickly but I was no less impressed. As a young man he was driven to be the very best he could be. He wanted to improve himself and make the world around him a better place. Even when he became frustrated he didn’t allow it to slow his determination. That’s what made it so enjoyable to also watch him grow also as a father and medical professional.

I have not worked for the company for almost nine years but today at the memorial service I heard others share how these men touched their lives and it made me realize all the more what a privilege I had in knowing them.

As I mourn their deaths I am comforted by the great memories they have left me and the absolute fact they are in the arms of their loving Heavenly Father.

Bob Ellis
Janesville

I can honestly say that there are few guys who could match the Heart of Clint Reger. I am so very sad to hear the loss of a good friend. I have known Clint for many years and he was an amazingly kind soul. Never down, or gloomy. Always bright and full of smiles. I'll always remember the fun times and laughs during softball. Blessings to the Family
Love, Angela & Darrin Freeman

Chris and I went to paramedic school together. I will always remember him as funny, outgoing, warm, dedicated, enthusiastic about the program, and completely devoted to spending the majority of his career flying. I am deeply saddened to hear about the accident March 14th. My thoughts and prayers will be with his family and his community, and with the families of Jim Bradshaw and Clint Reger.

Bonny Peacock

Thanks for being my friends

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
where never lark nor even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

By - John Gillespie Magee, Junior

>From - Dan Quinley

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