Richard Yellow Owl (Dickie), age 77 of Poplar, died Saturday, December 21, 2013 at the Laurel Health & Rehabilitation Center, Laurel, MT.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar, Montana, with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. A prayer vigil and visitation will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Friday, December 27, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will be at the Makaicu West Cemetery at Riverside, MT. Memorials may be given to Cheryl Melbourne of Poplar.
Richard P. Yellow Owl was born March 28, 1936 to Esther Yellow Owl and Louis Youpee Sr. in Poplar. He was baptized at the Catholic Church early on but also attended other churches with his common-law wife to participate in prayer services. Dickie attended Poplar Public Schools as a young man but quit to earn money working for farms and ranches as a labor hand. Dickie also like to do mechanic work fixing up cars. Dickie loved fishing, spending time with his grandchildren, watching classic western movies and traveling the back roads of the Reservation to appreciate the undeveloped lands.
Dickie had a big a big heart; he was always concerned about his family, took an interest in the things that they were interest in, and prized his family above anything else. Dickie spent time with his family, because he knew that time was a sign of value. The things that Dickie valued in family he would dedicate his time to it.
Dickie respected his parents, his neighbors and most importantly, he respected the love of his life; his common law wife Wilma.
Dickie respected all people’s emotions, their feelings and their perspective. The one’s that really knew him, were well aware of that he wasn’t intimated by growing old or losing his health.
Dickie is survived by step daughter Cheryl Melbourne of Poplar, MT; son; Richard Melbourne of Poplar, MT; brothers Louis Youpee Jr., Darrell Youpee both of Poplar and Eugene Youpee of Eugene, OR. John Lavender and Pat Lavender of Wolf Point, MT; sisters Frances Nation and Jewel Hanna both of Poplar, Karen Lavender of Wolf Point, Marie Shy Face of Wolf Point; uncles Jim Youpee of Brockton, MT and Lloyd Youpee of Poplar with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and many other family and friends.
Dickie was preceded in death by his parents, common-law wife of many years Wilma M. Melbourne; brothers Delmar Shy Face, Charles Youpee, Emo Lavender, Ervin Lavender; sisters June Shy Face, Delores (Shy Face) Red Eagle, Charlotte Shy Face; daughter Sandra Melbourne and several aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.