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Lawton, Oklahoma June 2014 December 3, 1950 ~ June 8, 2014 APACHE Don Ricker, 63, of Apache, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2014,in Lawton with his family by his side. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014, at Apache Reformed Church of Apache, with the Rev. Tim Nestell and Lay Speaker Matt Asetamy officiating. Burial will follow at Cache Creek KCA Cemetery, west of Apache, under direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home. Prayer/wake service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014, at Apache Reformed Church of Apache. Don Ricker was born December 3, 1950, to Richard and Rose Crowghost Ricker in Poplar, Mont. He was raised by his grandparents: Ezra and Mary Bear Ricker. He was of the Fort Peck and Standing Rock Sioux tribes. He attended Poplar public schools until his grandparents passed; he then attended Flandreau Indian School until he graduated. Don attended and graduated from Haskell Jr. College. He went to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, where he met his future wife, the former, Jackie Kostzuta. They married on May 4, 1975. Five months after he married Jackie, Don joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., Fort Polk La., Fort Carson Colo., Crailsheim, Germany, and Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas. His specialty title was in Indirect Fire Infantryman for seven years. While in the United States Army he received: Army Service Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal [w/ Bronze, 2 Loops]; NCO Professional Development Ribbon [Numeral 1]; Overseas Service Ribbon; and Sharpshooter [Pistol/Rifle]. His military education was a Primary Noncommissioned Officer Course for four weeks. He left the Army after seven years of service, and they moved back to Apache, where he began his employment with Hollytex. He worked for Hollytex as an inspector and eventually moved to the lab, where he worked until Hollytex closed its doors. From there he began working for the Indian Health Service until his retirement for health reasons in January 2012. Don was a Christian man who loved the Lord. He read his Bible daily and prayed every day for his family. Knowing that he's with the Lord is a big comfort to his family. He was slow to anger. He did his best to raise his children: Erick Lee, Gabriel Dion and Tiauna Rose, whom he loved dearly. His children loved him and will miss him dearly. Don supported his children in whatever they tried to endure. He loved taking Gabe to sporting events. He loved to watch Erick fancy dance and Tiauna in her buckskin. He was an avid OU Sooners, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Cowboys fan. He and Jackie loved going to casinos. Don and Jackie were married for 39 years; those were the best years for Jackie. Don loved her very much and tolerated her so much he was always there as a helping comfort to her. He would always take her side if only between the two of them. They were always together and enjoyed one another's company over others. They were each other's best friend. The void of losing him will be hard to fill. Our family was very honored that the United States Veterans Association offered him a plot at the National Veteran's Cemetery but as a family we would like him buried at the Cache Creek Cemetery, west of Apache. So that we can all be buried together as a family. Because that's the way he would have wanted it as the family man he was. He is survived by his wife, Jackie Kostzuta, of the home; sons: Erick and Amber Ricker, of Arkansas, and Gabriel and Mylene Wahnee Ricker, of Apache; daughter, Tiauna and Gerald Tahmahkera Jr., of Cyril; sister, Mary and Frank RedEagle, of Poplar, Mont.; brothers: Tony Boxer Sr., and Earl Eder, both of Denver; mother-in-law, Wanda Kostzuta, of Apache; sister-in-law, Marilyn Kostzuta, Kim Ortiz, of Arlington, Texas; Beth and Richard Giles, and Carol Wildes; brother-in-law, Cecil Gray Sr.; nieces: Sandy and Vince Cantudio, of Monot, N.D.; Jordis, Ava, Connie, Rose, Doreen, Carlene, and Justina, of all Poplar, Mont.; Lynnie Horse, Cheryl Mowatt, Dani Koassechony, Amy and Eugene BigGoose, Jenny Kawaykla-Sherman and Amanda Weryackwe-Wilson; nephews: Jake and Beth Whitebull, Leslie and Billie Ferguson, of Poplar Mont.; Ira Ricker, of Wolf Point, Mont.; and Charles and Nicky Passah; special niece, Candace and her husband Sky Mammedaty; special nephew, Terrance Lonewolf; grandchildren: Chaska, Lakota and their mother, Julia; Cassandra, Talon, Louis and their mother, Arlene; Gabe's daughter and Don's partner and pride and joy, Mylah Rose. He loved watching Mylah Rose play outside, loved watching her practice and play ball; and Amelia and Lilly Mammedaty, Jodeci Koassechony, Lauren Horse, Chelsea and Mariah Koassechony. He was preceded in death by grandpa and grandma: Ezra and Mary Bear Ricker; father and mother: Richard and Rose CrowGhost Ricker; sisters: Lois Ann Ferguson, Joyce LeMay, Phyliss Castro; brothers: Virgil, Gene, Orville, Dale Ricker, and Jeri Ferguson; special nephew, Richard Ricker; father-in-law, Henry Kostzuta; brother-in-law, George and Mitchell Kostzuta; and sister-in-law, Sandra Sue Kostzuta. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014, at Apache Reformed Church. |
Apache, Oklahoma September 2016 December 12, 1954 ~ September 4, 2016 Funeral for Jackie Sue Kostzuta Ricker will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at United Methodist Church [Mahsetky] of Apache with the Rev. Tim Nestell officiating. Burial will be in Cache Creek KCA Cemetery under direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home. Jackie passed away Sunday, September 4, 2016. An overnight wake service will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2016, at United Methodist Church [Mahsetky] of Apache. Jackie was born December 12, 1954, at the Kiowa Indian Hospital, Lawton, to Henry and Wanda (Coffey) Kostzuta. When Jackie was 2 her family moved from Apache to Dallas. Jackie attended Kindergarten through eighth grade in Dallas. Her family moved back to Apache, where Jackie attended Apache Public Schools, Fort Sill Indian School and graduated from Riverside Indian School. Jackie went on to attend Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., where she met her husband of 40 years, Don Ricker. Jackie graduated from Cameron University in Lawton obtaining her Associates and Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice. Jackie also obtained her international alcohol and drug counselor certification from the State of Oklahoma. Jackie was employed at Riverside Indian School and as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Indian Child Welfare director and as the Human Resource director. Jackie was also the secretary of the Oklahoma State Indian Child Welfare Board, president of the Southwestern Indian Child Welfare Association, and held office on the Alumni Executive Board of Riverside Indian School. She was a member of the Apache Tribe, and Comanche, Caddo and Delaware Tribes. Jackie is survived by her sons: Erick and wife Amber, Gabriel and his wife Mylene, and Gerald Tahmahkera Jr.; daughter, Tiauna Rose; mother, Wanda Kostzuta of Apache; sisters: Marilyn Kostzuta, Kim Ortiz, Beth Giles and Carol Wildes; brother, Cecil Gray Sr.; nieces: Cheryl Mowatt, Lynnie Horse, Dani Koassechony, Amy and Eugene Big Goose, Jenny Kawaykla-Sherman, and Thomas and Amanda Wilson; special niece, Candace Lonewolf and companion Sky Mammedaty; special nephew, Terrence Lonewolf; and numerous other family members and friends. She was also survived by her grandchildren: Chaska Dakota and Jordan, Lakota Dion, Talon Crow Ghost, Louis, Sandra Cruz, Amelia, Lilly, Chelsea, Mariah, Jodeci, Lauren, Henry, Angela, Bubbles and her little angel, Mylah Rose. Jackie loved all of her grandchildren, and each one held a special place in her heart. It is not that Jackie was closer to any grandchild in particular it was that Mylah was born and raised in the Apache area so Jackie was able to enjoy watching Mylah's school activities and summer ball games and listening to Mylah's stories and share times. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband, Don; father, Henry Kostzuta; brothers: George, Mitchell and Robert; sister, Sandra Sue; grandmothers: Mary Jack Kostzuta, Stella Beaver and Eunice Kostzuta; grandfathers: Comanche Jack and Big Ben, and grandpa, Benny Coffey. |
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