Jeffrey Ricker Obituary

Jeffrey Allen Ricker ' Wiyaka Hanska Najin - Tall Standing Feather' age 53, of Wolf Point, MT, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2025. Jeff was born on April 29th, 1972, in Portland, OR, to Ronald and Katherine (Riley) Ricker.

Jeff was raised in Portland along with his six siblings, known as "The Ricker 7." During his childhood days spent in St. Johns, he could be found cruising the neighborhood on his bicycle with his brothers, sneaking into Blazer games with his best friend Ty, learning new wrestling moves from his big brother, and practicing those moves on his younger siblings.

Jeff moved to Wolf Point, MT, in the summer of 1988, where he began work at Buttreys Foods. It was here where Jeff met his first love, Cody Reum, whom he married in the summer of 1992. From this union, they welcomed Courtney, Tyler, Brandon, Spencer, and Cassandra. During this 23-year marriage, Jeff formed a lifelong family with the Reums, who notoriously nicknamed him "Feffy," and with whom he enjoyed working, joking, 4-wheeling, and riding horses.

Jeff married his 2nd love, Janette Whitehawk, in the winter of 2014 and remained married until her death in 2022. From this 8-year union, he gained another daughter, Sheray, and a granddaughter, Zoey.

Jeff's passion for fixing things began at a young age and continued throughout his life. He became a talented and skilled mechanic, dedicating most of his time to getting his hands dirty working at a multitude of automotive shops or helping friends and family repair vehicles in his free time. Over the past decade, Jeff developed another family with the men he laughed and worked with at Northern Prairie Auto.

Thinking about Jeff, it's hard not to hear the heavy metal and rock music that was his world. If Jeff wasn't working on his many tech and vehicle projects, you could find him smoking a Camel cigarette while playing machines. Jeff had a hidden talent as a gifted artist, just like his grandpa Joe, leaving behind pieces of himself in his artwork. Jeff's faith never wavered, and he faced every challenge with strength, resiliency, and a few choice swear words. He was an incredible brother and uncle, as well as a devoted father and grandfather. No matter where life took him, Jeff was able to create new relationships and touch the lives of those around him.

Jeff was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents; mother, Katherine Ricker; brothers, Ronald Ricker Jr., and Randy Ricker; and wife Janette Ricker, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jeff leaves behind his father, Ronald Ricker Sr.; brothers, Brian Riley, Albert Ricker, Jonathan (Cassie) Ricker, Paul (Jessie) Ricker, Dakota Christian, and Cherokee Christian; sisters, Betty Ricker and Angela Cole (Ricker); children, Courtney Booth, Julian Martell, Tyler Reum, Brandon Ricker, Spencer Ricker, and Cassandra Reum; grandchildren, Hanna, Gemma, Chayton, Carlton, Ayana, Oliver, Laura, Tobias, Tripp, and Zoey; and many nieces and nephews.

If anyone was not mentioned, we are sincerely sorry. Jeff had numerous relatives and friends who will dearly miss him.

A wake will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at the Wolf Point Community Hall. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, July 11 at the Wolf Point Community Hall. Interment will follow at the Chelsea Cemetery west of Poplar. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.