Justin John Richards

Justin John Richards, Nagamowin-inini (Song Man), Chan te Wa ste (Good Heart) Olowan Wakan (Sacred Songs) Forever, Kingfisher Clan, was born December 21, 1989 and passed away on March 28, 2025. Justin was raised in Minneapolis, MN, with his mother Linda, brothers Paul, Sam and Reid, and sister Alicia.

Justin always tried to be the best he could be at whatever he put his mind to – whether it was learning, training and running marathons to singing on the drum at a young age, to learning Ojibwe and speaking Ojibwe fluently. Justin was a Proud Red Lake Member and always took care of the people he cared for, from family members to friends. It didn’t matter if he knew you for a minute or for years, if you asked him for help or needed help, he would be there. He was always giving. Justin was always joking around, trying to make everyone laugh. Since Justin was a little boy, his mom and siblings traveled across the states to attend many powwows and ceremonies. His excitement and love for singing powwow and teaching others their culture was truly inspiring and only grew stronger as years went by. He would also sing songs to his elders at any given request with his talented and beautiful voice. In high school, it was his love for his culture and strong voice that brought him and his family to travel many places and schools to sing and teach the importance of keeping our culture and creation stories alive. It was around this time he met the love of his life and life partner, Alyssa White, whom he shared a beautiful life with for 15 years and created three beautiful children, Justin Jr, Amberly and Alaina. Justin was an exceptional and loving father and partner to his children and wife. He loved teaching them their culture and singing songs to them.

Justin is survived by the love of his life, Alyssa White; his children: Justin Jr, Amberly and Alaina; his father, Sam Richards; family members: Lisette Schultz Richards, Sam L. Richards, Alicia M. Richards, Kaitlin S. Richards, Lataeya R. Richards and Taliya S. Richards; Margaret J. Richards, Verla & Perry Richards, Jaculine R. Richards, Rudolph A. Richards Jr, Deloris Richards, Ralph P. Richards, Alfred L. Richards, Charles S. Richards, Lisa White, Brooklyn Hill, Madison Hill, Samantha Melody Richards, Brelynne, Rosalie Hill, Tara Oakgrove, Sheldon & Rachel Hill, along with many cousins, nephews, nieces and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his son: Amenadial Calvin Richards; mother: Linda Hill-Mattson; grandparents: Rudolph A. Richards and Leona M. Richards (Little Killer); family members: Clyde O. Richards, Reid E. Richards, Paul Hill, Gladys Saragosa, Bonita Hill, Stacey Hill, Melonie Hill,  Faron Hill, Darryl Hill, Bonita Gayle Hill, Bonita Lois Hill, Jose Washington and Monica Salas.

A wake for Justin will begin at 4 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Cass Lake Veteran’s Building and continue at the New Red Lake Center in Red Lake, MN on Sunday, April 6, 2025 until the service at 12 PM on Monday, April 7, 2025 with Spiritual Leader Allen Hardy. Active Pallbearers will be Max Pigeon, Jace Pigeon, Nolan Nyman, Avery Cadwell, Terrence Cadwell and Bautisto Pacheco. Honorary Pallbearers will be Justin Richards Jr, Calvin White, Raul Washington, Brandon Murray, Hunter O’Brian, Alaina Richards, Amberly Richards, Lisa White, Brooklyn Hill, Madison Hill, Melody Richards, Sam Richards, Samuel Richards, Ralph Richards, Ralph Richards Jr, Gregory Hill, Jeremy Hill, Vincent Hill, Sheldon Hill, Mike Hill, Merwin Hill, Latisha Iceman, Mario Iceman Jr, Marcell Iceman, Bobby Gleason and Fred Keithley. Burial will be at St Mary’s Cemetery in Red Lake, MN.

Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack, MN.

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