Please click here to view a student eulogy for Lupe at Cibucue Cemetery in 2025: https://youtu.be/gWsvhi6MB3k. 

Biography
Early Life
Ronald (Ronnie) Lupe was born on January 1, 1930 to Nelson Lupe and Helen Nagle Lupe. He has two conflicting birth records. His first birth certificate notes his birth date as December 31, 1929, but his amended record and military records set his birth at January 1, 1930. He had four siblings: Mindah, LeRoy, Neya, and Nelson, Jr. His father worked various jobs to support his family. He served as a police officer at a school, worked as a stonemason for a building contractor, and worked as a salesman at a general retail store.

Lupe graduated from St. Johns High School in Laveen, Arizona in 1951. He began his studies at Arizona State University but did not graduate. 

He had many jobs throughout the White Mountain Apache Tribe reservation. At some point, he was a chain puller at a sawmill in McNary, which is within the reservation. He also briefly worked as a movie extra in Westerns, representing Native people with strength and authenticity.

Homefront
Cibecue's first peaceful contact with Americans occurred in 1857, though relations remained cautious. By 1965, agriculture in the area saw a modest revival, with over 60 corn fields and vegetable gardens producing a small supplement to store-bought food.

The modern Cibecue economy is driven by wages, cattle sales, trading post credit, and government assistance. Jobs remain limited, with some residents employed in a sawmill, school construction, cattle work, or trading posts. However, many face unemployment and economic hardship, relying on credit that often leads to debt.

Historically communal, the Apache economy shifted toward individual income and land ownership, weakening traditional clan-based structures. The nuclear family (gowa) has now become the main economic unit, replacing the extended family model that once defined Apache life.

Located at about 4,940 feet elevation, Cibecue evolved from scattered valley groups into a single settlement with schools, trading posts, churches, and tribal facilities. Today, it houses around 1,700 tribal members and includes amenities such as a clinic, gym, police substation, and commercial center. The community lies northwest of Whiteriver (the tribal capital). It is part of the White Mountain Apache Reservation, which features a dramatic elevation range from 2,600 to 11,400 feet and experiences all four seasons, making it a unique and culturally significant homeland.

Military Experience
Ronnie Lupe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 25, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. He completed training at Camp Pendleton, California, before deploying to Korea. Throughout his service, he held several roles, including messman, assistant barman, Runner, fire team leader, and field artillery cannoneer.

Lupe departed San Diego, California, aboard the USS General William Weigel on February 1, 1952, and arrived in Sokcho-ri, Korea, on February 20. In Korea, he served with L Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marine Division from February until August. In August, he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to private first class, demoted to private, and was promoted back to private first class and later corporal. He participated in combat operations against Communist forces in South and Central Korea, contributing to important military engagements during the Korean War. He departed Korea aboard the USS General Walker, returning to San Francisco, California, on February 22, 1953.

He completed the remainder of his service at Camp Pendleton, California. 

His service earned him several honors, including the Korean Service Medal, the UN Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Lupe was honorably discharged on May 24, 1954.

Veteran Experience
After leaving the military, Ronnie Lupe returned to civilian life with the same sense of duty he showed during the Korean War. He married Vera Cruz in the late 1950s and raised six children while living in East Fork and later in Whiteriver, Arizona. 

Drawing on the leadership skills he developed as a Marine, Lupe became a respected public servant, serving as Tribal Chairman and District 3 Tribal Council Member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He also worked as a director at Fort Apache and was instrumental in major community projects, including the hospital in Whiteriver, Sunrise Ski Resort, and Hon-dah Casino. He also served as the president of the Apache Alliance and as a member of the President’s Advisory Board of Northern Arizona University.

Commemoration
Though he never spoke of any wartime injuries, his enduring legacy is marked by his contributions to tribal governance, his advocacy in Washington, D.C., and his dedication to his people.

Ronnie Lupe died on August 12, 2012, and is buried in Dove Cemetery in Whiteriver, Arizona.

Bibliography
Primary Sources

6th Infantry Division, C Company, 20th Infantry Regiment, Fort Ord, California. Armed Forces Publications, Taylor Publishing Company, 1952.

Arizona. Navajo County. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. https://ancestry.com.  

Arizona. Navajo County. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Arizona. White Mountain Apache. 1932 Indian Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Arizona. White Mountain Apache. 1934 Indian Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Bledsoe, Sofia. 2011. White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Gives Traditional Apache Tribal Blessing to Army’s First Apache Block III Aircraft. Photograph. November 2, 2011. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service  (111102-O-9999B-798). https://www.dvidshub.net/image/483114/first-apache-block-iii-receives-sacred-apache-blessing.

Dishchii’bikoh Community School. Aerial photograph. Dishchii’bikoh Community School. https://www.dishchiibikoh.org/apps/albums/school/0/108686/0?uREC_ID=0&backTitle=&backLink=. 

Lupe Family Records. January 20, 2025. Courtesy of Candy, Joy, and Norma Lupe. 

Ronald Lupe. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates (amended), 1880-1935. https://ancestry.com. 

Ronald Lupe. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1880-1935. https://ancestry.com. 

“Ronnie Lupe.” Owens Livingston Mortuary. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com/obituaries/the-honorable-ronnie-lupe. 

"Ronnie Lupe." White Mountain Independent [Show Low, AZ], August 14, 2019. https://www.wmicentral.com/obituaries/latest_obituaries/ronnie-lupe/article_c38bf586-6099-5d3f-b86a-0d589cbe027e.html.

Sunrise Park Resort Awards. Video. January 15, 2015. Navajo County, Arizona. YouTube [6:32]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv7XEjosjqE.

Secondary Sources

 Aleshire, Peter. "Navajo County Pays Tribute to Ronnie Lupe." White Mountain Independent [Show Low, AZ], August 16, 2019. https://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/navajo-county-pays-tribute-to-ronnie-lupe/article_9d49447e-7522-52a8-a7d5-16eff4446970.html.

“Former Apache Tribe Chairman dies at 89.” Arizona Daily Star [Tucson, AZ], August 15, 2019. Newspapers.com (594011172). 

"Former Longtime White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Dies." AP News, August 12, 2019. https://apnews.com/general-news-422dbe032a2244e9b26d0a85d90646ed.

"Former White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Passes On." Indianz.com, August 13, 2019. https://indianz.com/News/2019/08/13/former-white-mountain-apache-tribe-chair.asp.

Hudson, Molly. “Tribal community remembers Lupe.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 14, 2019. Newspapers.com (593884191). 

Hudson, Molly. "White Mountain Apache Tribe Remembers Former Chairman Ronnie Lupe." The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 13, 2019. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/08/13/ronnie-lupe-and-white-mountain-apache-tribe/1999867001/.

"NIGA Joins the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Mourning the Passing of Chairman Ronnie Lupe." Indian Gaming Association. Updated August 14, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://indiangaming.org/niga-joins-the-white-mountain-apache-tribe-in-mourning-the-passing-of-chairman-ronnie-lupe/.

"Remembering Former White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe." Arizona Indian Gaming Association. Updated August 16, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.azindiangaming.org/news/remembering-former-white-mountain-apache-tribal-chairman-ronnie-lupe/.

“Ronnie Lupe.” Find a Grave. Updated August 14, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202129064/ronnie-lupe. 

“Ronnie Lupe.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/RONNIELUPE/4CAF8A. 

“White Mountain Apache History.” White Mountain Apache Tribe. Updated 2011. Accessed April 16, 2025. http://www.wmat.us/history.html. 

“White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Over the Years.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 13, 2019. https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona/2019/08/13/ronnie-lupe-white-mountain-apache-tribe-chairman-over-years-photos/2003350001/.

“White Mountain Apache Water Rights Signing Ceremony.” U.S. Department of the Interior. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.doi.gov/news/photos/white-mountain-apache-water-rights-signing-ceremony.

This profile was researched by Artejia Adjerson, Christine Alchesay, Zachariah Chief, Marquez Duane, Jaylee Goklish, Chasity Gregg, Imani Haven, Krinstan Hoffman, Aliana Jones-Embry, Anaya Lee, Tanae Lupe, Vashaya Mason, Christine Nightshield, Crysrell Olayvar, Snowy Smith, Aniqua Suttle, Carmen Thompson, Katelyn Thompson, Erin Wallen, and Divaughtae Walker, mentored by Dishchii’bikoh High School teachers Mr. Simon Kinuthia Kibe, Ms. Gene Rose Velasco, Mr. Thomas Blair, and Mr. Jeron Velasco, as part of a Veterans Legacy Grant Program led by National History Day in the 2024/2025 academic year.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.


Ronnie Lupe (center) in full traditional regalia during a ceremonial dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Lupe actively participated in preserving Apache traditions through song, dance, and cultural expression. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Three Apache dancers dressed in traditional clothing.

Ronnie Lupe helped to launch the tribe’s first official radio broadcast. The station amplified Apache voices, stories, and sovereignty through the airwaves. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Ronnie Lupe helping to install radio equipment.

Ronnie Lupe (second from the right) at the Hon-Dah Casino Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 1993. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Ronnie Lupe and six other leaders cutting a ribbon on a new casino.

White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe (middle) gives the traditional Apache tribal blessing to the Army’s first Apache Block III aircraft during a private ceremony on the flight line at the Boeing Apache product facility. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (111102-O-9999B-798).

Three Apache tribal leaders perform a blessing on a new U.S. Army Apache helicopter.

Ronnie Lupe (second from the left) was a member of his school’s basketball team. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Six young Apache men pose for a team photo with a basketball.

Ronnie Lupe (standing, far right) pictured with his graduating class at St. Johns High School, 1951. This was an early milestone in a life dedicated to leadership, service, and cultural pride. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

A group of graduates wearing caps and gowns.

Ronnie Lupe in his Marine Corps uniform. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

A  young Apache man in a Marine Corps dress uniform.

Ronnie Lupe (standing) is pictured during a film production in 1955. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Two Native American men and a horse on a movie set.

Documentation of Ronnie Lupe’s travel to and from the Korean War. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. Official Military Personnel File.

Documentation of Ronnie Lupe's travel to and from the Korean War.

Ronnie Lupe, wearing combat gear and equipped with grenades and his rifle, at Camp Pendleton, California. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Ronnie Lupe in combat gear, smoking a cigarette and reading a letter.

Ronnie Lupe (right) with Tribal Chairman Lester Oliver, April 1966. Captured during a moment of leadership transition, this photograph shows newly elected Chairman Ronnie Lupe alongside his predecessor, Lester Oliver, in the tribal office. The two leaders discussed the future direction of the White Mountain Apache Tribe following the April 1966 election. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Ronnie Lupe sitting with the outgoing chair of the Apache Nation.

Ronnie Lupe’s DD-214, detailing his military service. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. Official Military Personnel File.

Ronnie Lupe's DD-214 detailing his military service.

RONNIE LUPE

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