Myrna Jean Red Boy, also known as Holy Hands Woman (Nape Wakan Win), age 64 of Poplar, a granddaughter of the Hunkpapa Holy Man and Chief Black Moon (Wi Sapa) was called home on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.
Myrna was born on September 13, 1949 in Poplar, the daughter of the late Reno Red Boy and Vera M. Red Elk. Myrna attended schools in Poplar and graduated from Flandreau High School. She also attended college in Billings and at the Fort Peck Community College where she received an A.A. degree in criminal justice.
She worked at the Fort Peck A&S Gun Factory where she met and later married Calvin Robert First. She also worked at the Fort Peck Tribal Courts for a number of years as well as the Fort Peck ICWA office and later at the public defender’s office. Myrna was also active with the Fort Peck Sioux Treaty Council and the Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux Council of Fort Peck. She was a very strong advocate for the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868. She later worked as legal counsel with the Fort Peck Tribal Courts.
Myrna liked to listen to Sun Dance music and later in her life she became a Pipe Carrier and Sun Dancer at Leonard Crow Dogs for many years. She loved to help people and many people would call upon her to help them with legal issues and other times just to talk. She was always ready to laugh and visit with people; whenever anyone came to her residence she always cooked a meal and shared stories with them.
She is preceded in death by her parents Reno and Vera, husband Calvin First and brothers Dennis Red Boy, Reno Robinson, a sister Arlene Kahnapace, and granddaughter Thomasina First.
To the union of Myrna and Calvin First they had four children, Inez Pretty Bear First, Lynette June First, Calvin Medicine Bear First, and Lakota Thomas First. She is survived by sisters Renita and Charlene Kahnapace, Judy Red Boy, and Linda Comes Last. She is survived by granddaughters Seneca, Simaron, Taress, Kadence, KayJay, Channing, and Cylysce. She is survived by grandsons Andy, Antoine, Dion, Quannah, Calvy, Raycine, Kyle, Quaden, Conway, and Lakota First. She is survived by sister in law Karen Hamilton, special friend Angie Cheek, and her adopted sister Agnes Ward. She is survived by numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives from the Red Elk, Red Boy, and First families.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2013 at the Poplar Activity Center in Poplar. Interment will follow at the First Family Cemetery in North Fort Kipp. Condolences for the family may be left at www.claytonstevensonchapel.com . Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point is in charge of arrangements.