Obituary of Didrienne Rider

“Chin^ja^shun^A^wa”

October 10, 1957 – High River, Alberta

April 9, 2023 – Eden Valley, Alberta

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Didrienne Rider. Born October 10, 1957, Didrienne passed away at Eden Valley on April 9, 2023. Didrienne was raised to be a traditional Îethka woman, who believed in spirituality and Christian values. Didrienne loved to pick berries, herbs, and sweet grass. In her youth, she competed in rodeos as a barrel racer. Her love for horses led her to becoming a horse trainer. Didrienne was also a gravel truck driver, having earned her Heavy Equipment Operator Certification, she was the first woman in our community to become a HEO. She was the founder of the ladies’ drum group, “Eden Valley Drumming Club”. She also travelled, attending the World EXPO in different cities. She has travelled to Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and BC, as well as Seattle, Spokane, Coeur D’alene. Didrienne was an activist, and was part of the American Indian Movement. 

Didrienne is survived by her aunt, Tina Fox, sister Jackie Rider, aunts Phillomene and Tracey Stevens, Brenda Bearspaw, Charlene Bearspaw (Clarence), Renata Simeon, uncles, Derrick, Paul and Floyd Daniels, Glenn, Virgle, and Audley (Tilda) Stephens, Claude Lefthand; cousin Rebecca Rider, and relatives too many to mention.

Left to morn are her children, Rossalynn, Dwight, Nifiterie, Trina and Tristan; grandchildren, Bradon (Josiena Lefthand) and Harris Twoyoungmen, Haley, Keanna, and Rosa Rider; great-granddaughter Genesis.

We apologize if we have missed anyone.

Didrienne has taken her journey to the spirit world where her parents Donald and Evangeline have met her with love, and met her sister, Lorenda, niece Carletta, brothers Gregson, Richard Stephens and Donald Fabien; aunties Dora Poucette and Verda Abraham, Joyce Mark, Beverly Daniels, and Rena Kootenay; uncles Alvin Daniels and Kent Fox; paternal grandparents Arthur and Vera Daniels, John and Nora Stevens, maternal grandparent Joe Mark; Cousin Moses Fox.

Wake Services will be held at the residence of Donald Benjamin (Morley, AB) on Friday, April 14, 2023.  Funeral Services will be held at Morley United Church (Morley, AB) on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.  Graveside Service to follow at Bearspaw        Cemetery (Morley, AB).  Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed at www.MHFH.com.

In living memory of Didrienne Rider, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.