Former Tribal Council member Val Grout walks on at age 83

Five-term Tribal Council member Valarene M. “Val” Grout walked on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, at the age of 83.

Grout was born in Grand Ronde on March 20, 1935, to DeWalt David and Arvella Cora (Hudson) Grout. Her great-grandparents were Dave and Tilmer LaChance Leno and John and Cecile Leno Warren. Her grandparents were John and Frances Leno Porter Houck and Abe and Maude Warren Hudson.

She and Peter Grout had five children: Sharon Freund, Janell Haller, Richard Grout, Penny DeLoe and Boone Grout.

She was a resident of Tillamook, where she lived with her husband and mother. Peter Grout preceded her in death.

She served on Tribal Council from 1987-’92, ’93-’96, ’97-2000 and 2001-’04. She also ran for Tribal Council in 2004 and ’05.

In her final candidate statement in 2005, she said, “I learned that my success on the Tribal Council is best stated as a ‘team effort,’ as a team we can make the commitment to secure the Grand Ronde Tribe’s right to self-govern to control our own destiny and develop programs that have and will enhance the Tribal members’ quality of life. I am very proud to have been a part of this success through the years.”

She also served on the first Tribal corporation board of directors and sat on the committee that worked on the Elders assisted living facilities. She also was known for preparing meals for all of the Tribe's early powwows.

In her later years, Grout lived at the Elders assisted living facilities on the Tribal campus. However, she continued to remain active in Tribal affairs, attending General Council and Tribal Council meetings to express her concerns and opinions.

Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center in Dallas is assisting the family with arrangements. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Tribal gym with a meal to follow at the Elders Activity Center, 48940 Blacktail Drive. Interment will occur in the Grand Ronde Tribal Cemetery.

A full Walking On notice will appear in the Nov. 1 edition of Smoke Signals.