Richard Daniel Bryan

Richard Daniel Bryan…

was born to George and Clara (Crow) Bryan on September 15, 1944, in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was raised and received his education. On October 3, 1964, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Wirt in Lake Benton, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they moved to Tyler, Minnesota where he worked at Tyler Cement until 1970. He later returned to Pipestone in 1981. Dick’s father, George “Standing Eagle” Bryan, began to pass on the art and skill of pipe carving to him at 16 years of age. From then on, carving became a necessity of his everyday life. He worked throughout his lifetime in the same quarry that his family has used for generations. He maintained the tradition of making beautiful unique Indian art in pipestone and gave many demonstrations of his art of carving as well as having his works of art displayed in many locations. He was also a skilled and self-taught sculptor. From 1970, he became employed at the Pipestone National Monument Park Service in maintenance where he worked for over 22 years until retiring in 1992. On Sunday, May 27, 2012, Dick died at this residence at the age of 67 years, 8 months and 12 days.

Throughout his high school years, he was a star basketball player and also enjoyed boxing, in which he was awarded a Golden Glove Trophy. In his mid-30s, Dick spent a great deal of his time at the Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin, South Dakota. He established wonderful relationships with the monks who served there. He also loved attending adventurous traveling rendezvous, dressing in native attire and entertaining those around with his craftsmanship and great stories. He was quite a character. He enjoyed trapshooting and softball and was a past member of the Pipestone Lions Club and Pipestone Historical Society. He served several terms on the Indian Shrine Association Board and also on the SMACH board. Dick was a primary advocate for any other activity or organization in which he was able to help in the preservation of sacred Native American culture and grounds.

He is lovingly remembered by his two children, Leah Phillips and her husband Wilfred of Blaine, Minnesota and Cordell Bryan and his friend Dianna Jancik of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one grandson, Colton Phillips of Blaine, Minnesota; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Bryan of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one brother, Bill Bryan of Pipestone, Minnesota; special friend, Jayne Huibregtse of Pipestone, Minnesota and his dog, Benny. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Richel Bryan and his parents, George and Clara.