Helen Ricker
Helen Frances “Sissy” Youpee Ricker, 79, of Poplar died Nov. 6, 2021, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point.
She and her twin brother, Allen Frank “Sony” Youpee Sr., were born to William “Bill” Youpee Sr. and Isabel Floretta Weinberger March 1, 1942, in Poplar. She attended her early school years in Vancouver, Wash., and Portland, Ore., and graduated from Poplar High School in 1960. She was an alumna of Montana State University Bozeman, where she was a member of the Council of American Indian Students.
She met George Ricker at the Oil Discovery Celebration in August 1963 and they married Jan. 16, 1965, at Lindsey Memorial Presbyterian Church in Poplar. They were married for 55 years. They had two sons, George “Skay” Ricker Jr. and William Ricker.
She took part and organized many Indian naming celebrations, including her own. Helen’s Indian name, “Mahpeya Waste Win” (Good Cloud Woman), was passed down to her firstborn grand daughter, Erin Jade Ricker.
She was involved in the education process at the local level as well the college level. She worked at the Poplar Schools for more than a decade, where she was the first Indian Education coordinator and began the program for instructional aides in classrooms. She joined the JOM parent committee of the Poplar School system in 1975 and was eventually elected to serve as the director until the ‘80s. Following her JOM service, she served on the Council of Elders at her alma mater, Montana State University - Bozeman. She also served as one of the Fort Peck Tribes’ first gaming commissioners.
She was proud of her Native American culture and traditions. She was well known on the pow-wow trail and remembered for her traditional cooking. Her community, friends and family will remember her as an anchor of stability and, in particular, on how to carry on the “ways” of traditional practices. She assumed the responsibilities of treasurer of the Oil Discovery Celebration committee founded in the 1960s and billed as the largest Indian gathering in the United States.
She has touched many lives, especially in carrying out family events and feasts. Helen’s family and friends carry fond memories of loading pickups with rations — canned goods, bread and freshly butchered beef from the Youpee cattle herd. Her preparations for such events were enormous, taking place over days, months and sometimes years. She was not only an advocate for her culture and family, but also prided herself as a Christian and elder in the local communities.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Sr; son, George Jr; grandson, Chaskay; brothers, Allen, William Jr. and Danny; and sisters, Willi “Chubbins”, Florence “Red” and Gretchen.
She is survived by her son, William; granddaughters she raised, Erin Jade and Tamra; one great-granddaughter; siblings, Dwight, Josi, Lori, Cary and Marvin; adopted brother and sister, Albert “Greek” Culbertson and Joan Broomfield; and numerous grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 17, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel with interment at the Youpee Family Cemetery north of Poplar. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements
