Roxane Emily Gibbs was born July 7, 1953 to Imogene and Verne E. Gibbs. She joined her sister, Georgia Jean Gibbs, her life-long friend, in the family home.
God called Roxane home, Tuesday morning February 7, 2017, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, MT from complications of health issues.
Roxane married William (Willie) Youpee II and one daughter, Lesley Kim, was born to this union. Roxane also raised her niece, Cassie Jo Gibbs, as her daughter from the age of 8.
On their 5 th anniversary, they were in a fatal car wreck and Roxanes’ husband Willie, was killed.
Her adventurous spirit took her to many places to do many things. She built emergency landing slides for passenger planes in Los Angeles, CA. While in L.A., she stayed with Uncle Richard and Auntie Evelyn (Babe Gibbs, and their family; Carlotta (Buttons), Margie, Peggy and Stephen Gibbs where they shared many, many good memories.
When she returned to Montana, she attended college at MSU-Northern in Havre, MT. Upon coming home to Poplar, she worked as a teacher’s assistant with Charlene Swanson-Culbertson for a number of years. She gave a much needed caring hand to all the children she came into contact with, often bringing hats, gloves and scarves for those that needed them. During her twenties, she started a business “Mom’s Taco’s” with her very dear friend, Candy Cain. They opened the first Mexican and Indian taco fast food restaurant in Poplar. Roxane also worked at the American Legion Supper Club as a hostess for years. Roxane and Candy worked as flaggers for a summer in Ray, North Dakota.
She was very proud and honored to serve on the Board of Directors for West Electronics as well as Ft. Peck Tech. She enjoyed her grandchildren tremendously, granddaughter’s Alanis Melton, Sophia Albanese and grandson, Samuel Albanese, and her grandson Alec Alexander.
She enjoyed laughing and visiting with friends and family. She was known for her good sense of humor and always smiling.
Roxane is survived by her daughter’s Lesley (Charles) Ball, Cassie Jo Gibbs. Her three sisters Georgia (Tom) Gibbs-Atkinson, Carlene Gibbs Ferguson, and LaVerne Gibbs. Nephews Tom(Missy) Atkinson, Bo Ferguson, Weylin Ferguson, Justin Ferguson, Smiley Gibbs. Grandchildren Alanis Melton, Sophia Albanese, Samuel Albanese, Alec Alexander, Aries White Tail Feather, Eli Gibbs, Chimerri Lester, Kaycee Ferguson, Trever Ferguson, Myles Ferguson, Alysha (Iron Lance) Buckles-Atkinson, Tyrell Buckles-Ferguson. Great-grandchildren Kaidyn, Inez, Evanii and Tameya Crowe, Gracie, Gaby, Lola, Grayson and Tommy Vaden Atkinson. Special friends Lisa Ventura-Ratipush, Terry Thompson, Rose Akers, Terry Lindsay, Ava Loveland. She had grown very close to her roommate at the Faith Lutheran Home, Cookie Big Horn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Verne and Imogene Gibbs, and her husband, Willie Youpee.
Roxane had numerous cousins, nieces and nephews not only from the reservation but one end of the United States to the other.