Herman Red Elk III
Herman Red Elk III, 66, of Poplar, a member of the Rides the White Horse Clan, died Nov. 5, 2020, at St. Vincents Hospital in Billings.
He was born May 11, 1954, to Herman Red Elk Jr. and Alberta Kennedy in Poplar. He was part of the Morman Placement Program where in 1966, Herman was raised in the home of Rulan and Margaret Callister and family. He attributed his success in life to the hard work ethics Herman taught to his own sons and daughters, learned on the family farm.
He jumped on his motorcycle after his junior year in 1971, saying he needed to get back to his roots, graduating from Rapid City High School, Rapid City, S.D., in 1973. He joined the United States Navy after high school, following the deep military roots of his ancestors. He was honorably discharged after returning from the Vietnam War.
He returned to Poplar, where he met Bonnie Clincher. They were married May 11, 1985, in Poplar. He raised her son, Clifford Country, as his own. The family home grew by three more, joined by Charley Jae, Vern James and Randy Leon Red Elk.
He later started Red Elk Renovations. He was never undeterred by the winter storm calls at 2 a.m. for furnace calls or the 3 a.m. calls by his children. He made sure he was there to help and always would make a way for people’s calls for help were completed.
He and Bonnie took in many nieces, nephews and family, guiding each and opening their home with a good heart. Some of them were Keith Kennedy, Angie Kennedy Figueroa, Joseph Cloud Boy, Mundo Cloud Boy, Carly Clincher, Josephine Youngman (Ilona Jo) and Derrick Red Elk.
He loved his family and their home was always filled for family dinners, having Grandma Lenore over every Sunday evening. The famous Red Elk reunions every other summer were very special to him as family from across the country attended. He took his family every summer to the Black Hills in Rapid City to stay in the home of family friend Ken Bergland.
He is survived by children, Charley Snell, Vern RedElk, Randy Red Elk, all of Poplar, and Holly Red Elk of New York; four grandchildren; sisters, Valerie Schurz of Arizona and Kim Adams of Ohio; brother, Marlon Red Elk of Arizona; adopted brothers, Jay, Seth and Jeff Callisterof Idaho; and many grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Clifford Country; brother, Eugene Lorne Red Elk; and sisters, Randi, Kathy Red Elk Cloud Boy and Sandra Red Elk.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 16, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Chelsea Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.
