Richard Sr. lived an adventurous life for being from small town Oklahoma. Born in Muskogee, Indian Territory, he grew up in the Asher area, where the family lived on his mother's Indian allotment.
He and his brother attended Sacred Heart academy for boys while his sister went to St. Mary's. While there, Richard played on the school baseball team, and often played fiddle at area dances.
After school, Richard enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX in the cavalry before being sent as part of Gen. Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico. After that excursion, WW1 broke out, and he was sent to the Philippines with the 31st Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of 1st SGT, before taking a commission as a 2nd LT. He separated from the Army in 1919.
During that time, the unit had been stationed in Russia, and he met his first wife Claudia Lisnia there. They were married in Russia and welcomed their first son, Robert. Richard worked for an American bank in Russia and China. He and Claudia soon had 2 more children - Eddie and Helen, both of whom were born in New York City. Helen's step-son tells stories of the hardships they had in China during the Marxist revolution.
The Great Depression must have hit the family hard. They were back in the States and shuttled between New York, Wanette and California, at one time trying to make a living as grocery store owners in Los Angeles. They returned to Oklahoma, but Claudia was unhappy with the life there. They divorced shortly thereafter, Claudia taking Helen with her, while Robert and Eddie stayed with Richard.
RIchard married Winnie Burton and settled the family in Wanette. Shortly thereafter, Richard became an Indian Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As such, the family traveled to Fort Totten, SD, Plummer, ID and Window Rock, AZ. They returned to Wanette in 1954, where Richard lived the rest of his life.
Family members remember him as an adventurous fellow, who loved music and meeting people. He was a registered member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
He and his brother attended Sacred Heart academy for boys while his sister went to St. Mary's. While there, Richard played on the school baseball team, and often played fiddle at area dances.
After school, Richard enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX in the cavalry before being sent as part of Gen. Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico. After that excursion, WW1 broke out, and he was sent to the Philippines with the 31st Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of 1st SGT, before taking a commission as a 2nd LT. He separated from the Army in 1919.
During that time, the unit had been stationed in Russia, and he met his first wife Claudia Lisnia there. They were married in Russia and welcomed their first son, Robert. Richard worked for an American bank in Russia and China. He and Claudia soon had 2 more children - Eddie and Helen, both of whom were born in New York City. Helen's step-son tells stories of the hardships they had in China during the Marxist revolution.
The Great Depression must have hit the family hard. They were back in the States and shuttled between New York, Wanette and California, at one time trying to make a living as grocery store owners in Los Angeles. They returned to Oklahoma, but Claudia was unhappy with the life there. They divorced shortly thereafter, Claudia taking Helen with her, while Robert and Eddie stayed with Richard.
RIchard married Winnie Burton and settled the family in Wanette. Shortly thereafter, Richard became an Indian Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As such, the family traveled to Fort Totten, SD, Plummer, ID and Window Rock, AZ. They returned to Wanette in 1954, where Richard lived the rest of his life.
Family members remember him as an adventurous fellow, who loved music and meeting people. He was a registered member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Richard Sr. lived an adventurous life for being from small town Oklahoma. Born in Muskogee, Indian Territory, he grew up in the Asher area, where the family lived on his mother's Indian allotment.
He and his brother attended Sacred Heart academy for boys while his sister went to St. Mary's. While there, Richard played on the school baseball team, and often played fiddle at area dances.
After school, Richard enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX in the cavalry before being sent as part of Gen. Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico. After that excursion, WW1 broke out, and he was sent to the Philippines with the 31st Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of 1st SGT, before taking a commission as a 2nd LT. He separated from the Army in 1919.
During that time, the unit had been stationed in Russia, and he met his first wife Claudia Lisnia there. They were married in Russia and welcomed their first son, Robert. Richard worked for an American bank in Russia and China. He and Claudia soon had 2 more children - Eddie and Helen, both of whom were born in New York City. Helen's step-son tells stories of the hardships they had in China during the Marxist revolution.
The Great Depression must have hit the family hard. They were back in the States and shuttled between New York, Wanette and California, at one time trying to make a living as grocery store owners in Los Angeles. They returned to Oklahoma, but Claudia was unhappy with the life there. They divorced shortly thereafter, Claudia taking Helen with her, while Robert and Eddie stayed with Richard.
RIchard married Winnie Burton and settled the family in Wanette. Shortly thereafter, Richard became an Indian Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As such, the family traveled to Fort Totten, SD, Plummer, ID and Window Rock, AZ. They returned to Wanette in 1954, where Richard lived the rest of his life.
Family members remember him as an adventurous fellow, who loved music and meeting people. He was a registered member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
He and his brother attended Sacred Heart academy for boys while his sister went to St. Mary's. While there, Richard played on the school baseball team, and often played fiddle at area dances.
After school, Richard enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX in the cavalry before being sent as part of Gen. Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico. After that excursion, WW1 broke out, and he was sent to the Philippines with the 31st Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of 1st SGT, before taking a commission as a 2nd LT. He separated from the Army in 1919.
During that time, the unit had been stationed in Russia, and he met his first wife Claudia Lisnia there. They were married in Russia and welcomed their first son, Robert. Richard worked for an American bank in Russia and China. He and Claudia soon had 2 more children - Eddie and Helen, both of whom were born in New York City. Helen's step-son tells stories of the hardships they had in China during the Marxist revolution.
The Great Depression must have hit the family hard. They were back in the States and shuttled between New York, Wanette and California, at one time trying to make a living as grocery store owners in Los Angeles. They returned to Oklahoma, but Claudia was unhappy with the life there. They divorced shortly thereafter, Claudia taking Helen with her, while Robert and Eddie stayed with Richard.
RIchard married Winnie Burton and settled the family in Wanette. Shortly thereafter, Richard became an Indian Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As such, the family traveled to Fort Totten, SD, Plummer, ID and Window Rock, AZ. They returned to Wanette in 1954, where Richard lived the rest of his life.
Family members remember him as an adventurous fellow, who loved music and meeting people. He was a registered member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Gravesite Details
HUSBAND OF WINNIE P CRYER
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