Vera Mae Richards was born June 25th, 1948 at Fort Yates, North Dakota She passed away September 21, 2023 – Avantara North Nursing Home, Rapid City SD

Vera was born to Paul & Louise Young Eagle in Fort Yates ND. Born and raised in until 1988, She moved to Rapid City with her family and then to Trenton ND in 1991.

She worked in numerous cooking and cleaning jobs. IHS Hospital as a cook/kitchen help on Standing Rock Reservation Tribe in Fort Yates for many years. In Trenton, ND she also did office/clinic – cleaning work.  Vera moved back to Rapid in 1997-98.  She also had a couple of different jobs as a cook/ kitchen helper in Rapid City at Regional Hospital and Boys & Girls Club, where she met her late husband, Kenneth Richards.

Kenneth and Vera united in marriage on June 30, 2005, and they both continued their lives together until his passing November 6, 2009.

Vera enjoyed numerous things, whether it just be around great company, she loved her Dwight Yoakam music, she loved her Green Bay Packers, traveling to see family when she was able to, going to pow wows, rummaging with her sister, doing her word puzzles, she enjoyed making fry bread, (people loved her fry bread), volunteering her time when she could.

At her residence at Avantara North in Rapid, she enjoyed the arts & crafts, movie days, bingo, enjoyed her company with her sister Pauline (or anyone else that came to visit near and far) including her grandchildren.

A special thank you goes out to our Aunt Pauline for always caring/being moms' caretaker. You were (like her other siblings) her rock. I know how much she is appreciative of you being there for her every step of the way. Thank you to the McCowan family (Evangeline's Family) for the beautiful Rosary for Vera.

Vera is survived by her children: Evangeline (Scott) Cooper, Trenton ND; William Martin, Bismarck ND; Robin Martin. Her sisters- Pauline Ashley, Rapid City SD; Marianne Young Eagle (Morin), Belcourt, ND; brother Darryl Young Eagle, Rapid City, SD.

Her grandchildren: LaDawn (Cody) Thompson, Dakota & Garnar McCowan, all of Trenton ND; Kevin Young Eagle Jr, Grand Forks ND; Raisa Young Eagle, Fargo, ND; LaShae Martin, Shaylynn Martin & Robyn Martin all of Devils Lake, ND; Adriano Martin, Fort Totten ND; Robin Martin Jr.

Great Grandchildren; Novalee, Ryan & Raelynn Thompson, David Goodbird, Erza & Elijah Desjarlias, Mileena Martin.

Vera also had many nephews, nieces, many other grandchildren that she took in as her own, and cousins who she loved dearly.

Preceded in death: Her parents Paul & Louise Young Eagle, her husband Kenneth J Richards, her son Kevin Young Eagle Sr, her beloved friend, Jackie Branch, her nephew Shawn Killspotted.

Special Note: we will have a meal gathering for mom in the Spring 2024. Details later to come.

Pallbearers – All of Vera's grandchildren

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.