Richard Dale Russell also known as “Ditchy”, 48, left to be with the Lord on June 7, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. Ditchy was born on October 23, 1966 in Poplar, MT and was raised by his Grandma/Mom Vida Muskrat since birth. Ditchy began his life of traveling at an early age, determined to experience life off the Reservation, starting with the Mormon Placement Program at the age of 10.
From there he went into the Chemawa Indian school where he stayed until his junior year. While attending Chemawa, he was a star football and basketball player for which he was featured in the 1984 Chemawa yearbook. After leaving Chemawa he met Karen Harrison in 1985 and from that union they had a son Darian Travis Russell. He is now 27, looks a lot like his dad and lives in Grand Ronde, Oregon.
In 1993 he had the opportunity to model and was featured in the American Indian Men Calendar, for which he was very proud of.
One of his many dreams that he had his heart set on was to attend the American Indian Arts Institute to study art and silver smithing so he can one day open up his own business. Ditchy also did landscaping and yard/garden work. His work was immaculate therefore many people would hire him to edge their lawns and put in rock gardens.
No matter where Ditchy was he always found a way to write or call home to check on Grandma Mom and to tell her how much he loved and missed her. In one of his letters he told her he was going to come home for a visit finally. Of the many states he traveled through, he finally settled in Iowa where he lived the past 15 years.
He left behind numerous friends and a special friend, Carol Young, all of the Des Moines area whom he was also known to as “Rick”. He will be missed dearly by all his family and friends. Ditchy is survived by his Mom (Vida Muskrat) of Poplar, MT; his son Darian Russell and his mother Karen Harrison both of Grand Ronde, OR; mother Joann Russell; father Pierre Youpee, Sr. both of Poplar, MT; sisters Farrell (Dennis) Simons of Poplar, MT, Tracy RedDog of New Town, ND, Danette Scott, Poplar, MT; brothers Kalijah GoodSoldier, Cliff and Cory Youpee, Pierre Youpee, Jr, all of Poplar, MT; aunts Bonnie Menz of Ft. Kipp, MT, Joanne Browning, Ilona, Mary, Pauline, Burma and Corina Youpee all of Poplar, MT; uncles John, Alan, Lloyd, Leroy and Bernard Youpee all of Poplar, MT plus numerous nieces and nephews.