Pastor Deloris “Dee” Ann Kirn Red Eagle, age 65, of Poplar, MT went to be with the Lord on December 6 th , 2013.
Dee was born on June 15, 1948 to Leslie C. “Red” Kirn and Esther Yellow Owl-King. She attended school in Poplar, Missoula, and Helena, MT and later earned her Associate of Arts Degree and Bachelors of Arts Degree at Naes College.
In February of 1966 she met her husband, the love of her life, Elmer Sterling Red Eagle. They married one year later on February 8 th , 1967. From this marriage, they had 5 children. In 1994, she began her fight against cancer, a fight she would face for 19 years. She was pursuing a Master’s Degree in Divinity at the time, but it was put on hold due to her illness. In the 1990’s she was invited to a seminar at the University of Montana in Missoula. She was the only Native American invited to this seminar and was asked to speak on small business and give her ideas. There were people who attended this seminar from all over the world and this was a major milestone in her life. She also owned and operated The Red Eagle Second Hand Store in Poplar and did very well in her business.
In the early parts of 2000, after being spared by the Lord from another bout of cancer, her and her husband Sterling had decided to pursue an education to become ministers. They attended the Presbytery of the Minnesota Valley Ministries, where after two years, they had earned their right to be pastors. In 2011, she was commissioned by the Dakota Presbytery and appointed to help her husband Sterling pastor at the United Dakota Presbyterian Church in Wolf Point, MT. A short while later it was requested by the elders of the Red Eagle Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fort Kipp, MT that she be their pastor. She was then appointed as the official pastor, where she remained until her passing. Pastor Dee is the first lady pastor ever to be appointed in the history of the Red Eagle Memorial Presbyterian Church. She loved ministering, especially to the children.
She was preceded in death by her son Harvey Dean Red Eagle, great grandson Elmer Sterling Red Eagle III, father Leslie C. Kirn, mother Esther Yellow Owl-King, grandmother Dora Yellow Owl, siblings Emil and Ervin Laverdure, and Charlotte Caulder.
She leaves behind her husband of 48 years Sterling Red Eagle, sons Elmer Red Eagle Jr., Jerome Red Eagle, daughters Lawanda Jefferies-Red Eagle, Mayme Red Eagle (Kenny Ayers), adopted son Paul Red Eagle Sr., grandchildren Tiffany (Lee) Atchico, Brittany Martell, Alicia Ayers, Aaron Ayers, Marcus Red Eagle, Duran BigLeggings, Darrell Hall, Jazmyne Hall, great-grandchildren Alesha Red Eagle, Lashyiah, Miquela, and Chevelle Red Eagle, Kaiden and Mika Longhair, 15 month old great grandson Paul Red Eagle Jr. (whom she was raising), and several other grandchildren and great grandchildren, too numerous to mention.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Monday, December 16 at the Activity Center in Poplar. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 17 also at the Activity Center in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Poplar City Cemetery in Poplar.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.