Funeral services for Robert Lee Red Ears, 72, will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, May 14, at the Green District Building in Fort Yates, ND. Burial will follow a luncheon at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. A procession will be leaving Kesling Funeral Home at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for an all-night wake at the Green District Building. Robert passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Sanford Health in Bismarck, ND.

Robert “Bobby” Lee Red Ears was born on June 4, 1953, to Irene Red Ears in Fort Yates, North Dakota. At an early age, Bobby was placed with Edward and Caroline Loon and was raised as their own. Bobby was very adventurous as a young child. He was educated in Fort Yates, where he graduated from Fort Yates High School in 1972 and entered the Army in January of 1973. He was awarded a metal for expert .45 caliber pistol and Sharpshooter M16. After his discharge, he moved to New Orleans, LA, where he worked on off shore oil rigs until his retirement. 

While there he met the love of his life, Vanessa Camadelle Ronquille. They married in New Orleans and lived there until her death in 2007. Bobby left Louisiana and moved to Rapid City, SD, to be close to his brother and sister-in-law, John and Sue Pretends Eagle. Bobby enjoyed his time there until he returned to Fort Yates to be close to his Gates family. Diane and her children, who looked out for him until his passing.

Bobby was preceded in death by his wife, Vanessa Red Ears, mother Irene Red Ears, parents Edward and Caroline Loon, grandparents Phillip and Sadie Red Ears, brother Richard White Shield, sisters Barbara White, Diane Gates, Kathy Loon, Tammy Yates.

He is survived by his sisters Rita Loon and Debbie Red Ears-Hempler, his brothers John (Sue) Pretends Eagle and Bradley (Bobbi) Aune and Frank Yates, Cheryl Yates, and Francine Yates.