Della (Ve'Ho'A E') Ruth French

Funeral Services for Della (Youngbear) French, 65, Weatherford resident will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, April 30, 2021 in the Clinton Indian Community Building, officiated by Pastor Gerald Panana. Burial will conclude in the Mound Valley Cemetery in Thomas, OK under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. There will be a Traditional All Night wake service starting 7:00 P.M., Thursday, April 29, 2021 in the Clinton Indian Baptist Church. Della Ruth (Youngbear) French (Ve’ho’a e’) was born November 8, 1956 to Herman W. Youngbear and Jessie (All Runner) Youngbear in Clinton, OK and passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021 in the St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK. Della was raised in Thomas, OK. She started her schooling in Thomas and later attended the Fort Sill Indian School where she participated in basketball and cheerleading. In 1975 she moved to Oceanside, CA and married Louis French, who was serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. They made their home back in Thomas where she was employed, as a nurse’s aide and housekeeping, with the Thomas Nursing Home. She moved to the Oklahoma City area where she was well known at the Crazy Horse Bar where she worked as bar tender for 12 years in the 80’s and 90’s. She was a proud member of the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes and Oklahoma and enjoyed many of their traditions. She loved to Southern Buckskin Dance, to bead work, make breast plates and chokers. She loved music and attending Pow Wows. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed supporting the Thunder Basketball and Oklahoma University Football. She is preceded in death by her parents, son, Daniel Wilson; grandson, Joseph Angel; sister, Michelle Young Bear and brother, Herman Young Bear, Jr. She is survived by daughters, Angela French, Clinton and Robyn French, Weatherford; sisters, Sharon All Runner, Clinton, Delores Howlingwater and husband, Charlie, Thomas, OK, Barbara Benally, Clinton, Eleanor Jo Youngbear, Clinton and Monica Youngbear, Clinton; brother, Don All Runner, Thomas, OK. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and adopted sisters, Una Penn, Oklahoma City, Ok, LaQuita Lonebear and Kim Lonebear, both of Clinton, Ramona Welch, and Rosie Fanman, both of Weatherford.