Funeral services for Richard Bear Ribs, 64, of McLaughlin will be at 1 PM, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge. Burial will be at the St. John's Episcopal Cemetery in Bullhead under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home . Visitation will be from 11 AM to 1 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Richard passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023, at IHS in Ft. Yates.

Richard Lee Bear Ribs, 64 years old was born August 17, 1958 in Fort Yates, North Dakota to Andrew Bear Ribs Jr. and Iyonna Crow Ghost Bear Ribs. Richard is the decedent of Chief Bear Ribs on his father Andrew Bear Ribs Tiospaye and Chief Rain in the Face on his mother, Iyonne Crow Ghost Bear Ribs Tiospaye. Richard is the eldest of their nine children Joseph "Rusty" Crow Ghost, Randy Bear Ribs, Andrea "Sweetie" Bear Ribs Brown, Leah Bear Ribs Vandermeulen, Carmelita White Paw, Andrew Bear Ribs III, Althea Bear Ribs Olson, Wendell Bear Ribs Sr. and adopted brother Dallas Crow Ghost Sr. Richard grew up 5 miles west of Bullhead on the Bear Ribs ranch with horse and cattle. Richard attended the Bullhead School and graduated from McIntosh High School in 1977. He attended Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota and attended YACC at the Chief Gall Inn. He worked in many capacities and many places in his lifetime. He worked in Bullhead Head Start and had a recreational center in Bullhead back in the 80s. He lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota and worked at the PPL Company and also at an assembly line Rapid City where he lived for 18 years and many other places. He loved to work and travel. He had many friends in his lifetime.

Rick had many nieces and nephews that he was proud of; Tasha and Tori Olson, Trent Bear Ribs, Wendell Bear Ribs Jr., Cole Bear Ribs, Canon Bear Ribs, Darwin Hunter Vandermeulen Jr, Sadie Vandermeulen, Lyle Crow Ghost, Joe Crow Ghost jr., Jennifer Crow Ghost Hollow, Galen Crow Ghost, Kya Crow Ghost, Chania Crow Ghost, Dallas Crow Ghost Jr., Jaden Crow Ghost, Riley Crow Ghost, Sunshine Brown, Sylvan Brown III, Cheyenne Brown, and Nehemiah Brown and many, many more.

Rick enjoyed pow wows, rodeos, cattle, horses and all his friends and relatives here on Standing Rock and Cheyenne River. He was preceded in death by his father Andrew Bear Ribs Jr., mother Iyonne Crow Ghost Bear Ribs, his grandparents; James Crow Ghost and Adelia (White Bear Claw) Crow Ghost , brother, Joseph "Rusty" Crow Ghost, sister; Andrea "Sweetie" Bear Ribs Brown, niece Nevada Bear Ribs White Paw, Nashawna and Wyatt Vandermeulen and many more. He will be dearly missed by all the family, friends and relatives. All our relatives who passed before him will all be waiting to greet him. We are all comforted knowing Richard is at peace.