Stacy Lynn Richards was born on May 18, 1990 in Rapid City, SD to Stephanie Richards. He met his father, Daryll Apple, when he was six months old, who loved him and raised him his whole life. He made his journey to the spirit world on January 1st, 2025 in Gordon, NE.
Stacy grew up in Kyle, South Dakota and attended Little Wound High School, but completed his high school education and got his GED diploma from Kicking Horse Job Core in Montana. Stacy lived in several places and was employed at different jobs, usually working his way up to supervisor and manager positions, before he returned to Kyle in 2020 to finish his classes at Oglala Lakota College. While he was in school he also got to work with Native youth as a camp counselor and production assistant for the Mitakuye Foundation, as well as being a kids’ ambassador for ROAR, where he taught self-defense in schools. He found his passion in the medical field though and applied and was accepted into the OLC nursing program. Stacy met Ramsey Brown, fell in love, and moved to Buffalo, Wyoming with her. Their son, Everest Franklin Richards, was born on June 16th, 2022. Fatherhood was the greatest joy of his life. He also loved taking care of the elderly by working as a CNA at the Amie Holt Care Center during his breaks from school. Stacy was awarded numerous scholarships and awards while he was enrolled in OLC and was on the president’s list due to his exceptional grades. He was looking forward to furthering his career as a registered nurse and will be receiving his graduation pin at his wake services.
Stacy was raised in the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. Over time he found his own spiritual path that embraced his Lakota culture, traditions and ceremonies. He was always very proud to be an Oglala Lakota man and wanted to share his heritage with the world. He loved to travel and experience new places and quickly made friends wherever he went. He approached life with a wonderful sense of humor; his toothy grin was contagious and would make anyone around him smile too. He was a born athlete and excelled at most sports, including running, swimming, and basketball, as well as some newer sports like rock climbing and skiing. He was never afraid to try new things. He was a Chief’s fan through and through. GO CHIEFS! He loved gaming and music and the outdoors; he loved to cook and sing and more than anything he loved sharing all these things with his son. He was a natural caretaker and nurturer and would do anything for his tiwahe. The world will not be the same without him in it, but he lives on in our hearts and in our memories.
Stacy is survived by his parents, Darrell and Stephanie Apple; son, Everest Franklin Richards; wife, Ramsey Brown; siblings, Rodney Richards, Sr., Triston Apple and Ty Apple; Hunka siblings, Kayja Shakespeare, Catelyn Shakespeare, and Wakiyantowah Ota Shakespeare; nephews, Rodney Richards Jr., Francisco Richards, Tyree Richards, and Jasper King-Apple; nieces, Kaiya Richards, and Aubrey Jordan Apple; and many other friends and relatives.
Stacy was preceded in death by his sister, Daryl Ann Apple; mother-in-law, Janet Hubbard (Mama J); maternal grandparents, Dorothy Mae Richards and Clifford Wayne Richards, Sr.; paternal grandparents, Orville Darrell Apple, Louis and Betty Little Whiteman, and Everett Little Whiteman; uncles, Lyle Richards, Rodney Richards, Leonard Ferguson, and Michael Moves Camp; aunt, Lucine Schaffer; and cousins, Lisa Jo Richards, Shawn Brown, Stephan Patton, Johnny Bergis Brown, and Lewis Top Bear.
Pallbearers will be Tristan Apple, Rodney Richards, Sr., Ty Jordan Apple, Matthew Janis, Paul Wayne Ecoffey, Harlan Prue, Lucien Little Whiteman, Derek Janis, Dustin Zimiga, Stacy Winters, Kalo Garrette, Jessie Red Hawk, Toyier James Brown, and Wyatt Mesteth.
Honorary pallbearers will be Everest Franklin Richards, Ramsey Brown, Frank Brown, Robin and Sandra Janis, Cora Spotted Eagle and family, Bret Thunder Hawk, Tina Slow Bear and family, Norma Brown Bull and family, Gayla Loafer and family, Melanie Janis and family, Wanda O’Rourke and family, Larissa and Parker Janis, Regina Little Bull and family, Hobe Ecoffey and family, Luke Brown, Janet Hubbard, Carly Fraysier, Sammye Vieh, Kristen Crago and family, Matt McWilliams, Tiller Family, The Johnson County Hospital Staff, The Amie Holt Center, Gamal Buhaina, Brian McHugh and family, All his Vermont and Wyoming Friends and Family, Evelyn Gregg and family, Ethel Kills Straight, Lavina Red Owl and family, Carmen Apple and family, Terry Little White Man (Lynette) and family, Ferguson Family, Leta and Warren Apple, Mark Apple and family, Todd Craig and family, Marvin Apple, Sr. and family, George Apple and family, Ann Apple and family, Marie Apple and family, Angie Apple and family, Twila Hopkins and family, Carla Apple and family, Travis and Destiny Loafer, Natasha and Ray Rosales and family, Ernest Little Whiteman and family, Alvon Red Owl and family, Amy Red Owl and family, Vincent Fraser and family, Anita and Reed Brown and family, Clifford Wayne Richards, Jr. and family, Alfreda and Dean Patton and family, Jeni Richards-Prue and family, James Richards and family, Filmore and Spike Richards, Tyonnia Ghost Bear and family, Teresa Richards and family, Larry and Yolanda Swalley and family, Geno and Phyllis Winters and family, Schrader Family, Winters Family, Rose and John Little Thunder and family, Janelle Brewer and family, Fern Red Owl and family, Emma Swalley and family, The Oglala Lakota College Nursing Program: Robin White, Andrea Kaye, Jessica Rosane, Blossom Morrison, Kelsey Bear Heels, Tina Stands, Joel Davis and his entire class of 2024, The Mitakuye Foundation: Jennifer Jessum, Simon Joseph, Lo Sprague, Verola Spider, Nancy Reddest, Dante Witt, and everyone who participated in the Mitakuye programs.
Wake Services: One night wake service starting at 2:00 PM, Monday, January 20, 2025 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Hall in Kyle, SD with evening services starting at 6:00 PM.
Funeral Services: 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Hall in Kyle, SD.
Traditional Lakota Services: Reed Brown, Sr., Larry Swalley, Clifford Richards, Jr. and James Richards
Officiating: Fr. Ron Seminara, S.J.
Burial Services: Little Whiteman Family Cemetery, No Flesh Community-Kyle, SD
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD