We are utterly heartbroken to announce our charismatic beautiful mother Abigail Yvonne Reddoor was called home to the bosom of the Father, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 23, 2018 at 3:00 a.m.
Abigail Yvonne Reddoor was born in Poplar, Montana on September 26 th 1937 to David Leader Reddoor and Mabel Geraldine Shields. She was the fourth child of six.
Our consolation is that our beloved mother, a beautiful soul is enveloped in love, peace and joy of the Lord. Her faith was the backbone of our family and her resilience withstood adversity and earthly obstacles which allowed her to humbly and gracefully embrace the obstacles in dignity.
In 1963, Abigail was joined in marriage with Eugene Thomas “Gene” Ryan Sr. of Sisseton, South Dakota and of this union beget 3 children; 2 daughters, Lanette M. Ryan and Gina Elizabeth Bearfighter both of Poplar, and 1 son Eugene Thomas “Chiefy” Ryan who is deceased. They lived in San Jose, California for 11 years then made the move to Poplar, Montana in 1975.
Abigail grew up in Fort Kipp, Chelsea, Poplar, and Oglala, South Dakota, graduating from Brockton High School, home of the warriors. Throughout her life she developed skills and friendships through her many talents and adventures. She worked as a medical transcriptionist for 25 years at the Verne E. Gibbs Health Center in Poplar, Montana for San Jose Medical Examiner in San Jose, California and also for Medical Lovelace Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Abigail attended Haskall Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas forging a friendship with Billy Mills. She graduated from NAES and the Fort Peck Community College with a business degree.
Abigail’s most significant accomplishments was her walk with the Lord and she was always happy to share that. She loved her family, her heritage and cultural language and spoke fluent Dakota Sioux embarking on yet another journey teaching the Dakota language to the young children and adults of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe of Fort Peck and was an instructor of the Dakota Language and Dakota Hymns at Fort Peck Community College. Our mother loved teaching the language and keeping it alive within the community and she loved singing Dakota hymns in which she made several Dakota Odowan hymns with her elder sister Irma Reddoor. She instilled the passion for genealogy in the community.
Abigail participated and had membership in many organizations. A few are P.C.O, Dakota Presbytery, and Elder Deacons Association.
Abigail was a master seamstress, a genealogist, creative craftsman, designer of women’s traditional dress, which was exhibited in cultural museums in South Dakota. She could twirl a baton and taught her 2 daughters also. She could skin a deer in less than 8 minutes, she forged friendships with notable people throughout the world and the young children loved her stories of Iktomi. She was an industrious lady of skill as we all know. Abigail will be deeply missed as she touched countless lives and will be remembered for that. Thank you mom for being our beloved mother.
Abigail is preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Rev. Basil Reddoor and Blanche Melbourne Reddoor; Maternal grandparents Andrew and Florence Lambert Shileds; father David Leader Reddoor Sr.; mother Mabel Shields Reddoor; brothers Gabriel Andrew Shields; sister Mary Mabel Reddoor; brothers David L. Reddoor Jr. and Timothy Reddoor Sr; sister Irma Florence Reddoor; a son Eugene Thomas “Chiefy” Ryan Jr.; granddaughter Evelynn Eden “Lisbeth Grayeagle; maternal aunties Gwendolyn and Eunice Shields Alfrey of Poplar; and Foster family Lewis and Loetta Boyd of Brockton, Montana.
Abigail is survived by daughters Lanette M. Ryan and Gina Elizabeth Bearfighter both of Poplar; grandchildren Davi Diggins, Dana Ryan and Danette Ryan, Moses N. Dionne of Colorado Springs, Colorado (all of Poplar) Jade Cope, Ashley Troitier, Trey Dribbernow, and Eugen “Chiefy” Thomas Ryan III of Poplar; special friend Phyllis Redday of Sisseton, South Dakota; Agnes Ward; Poplar Cousin, Diane Owens. If we forgot to mention anyone, we apologize.
Abigail Yvonne Reddoor was a beautiful Sioux woman with a big heart. She will be missed by all who knew her, friends, colleagues, cousins, as well as numerous relatives and her special friends.
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