Jake Alden Richard

Jake Alden Richard, "Garishda Dahu" (Little Lightning), at just 1 year and 1 month old, gained his heavenly wings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo; he was surrounded by his family as he passed away. He is the infant son of Laurie Yellow Lodge.

Private services were held, and he was laid to rest at Snowbird Cemetery, rural New Town.

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Jake Alden Richard, "Garishda Dahu" (Little Lightning), was born on January 25, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents are Laurie Faith Yellow Lodge and Anthony John Richard.

Jake and his mom recently moved back to her home in New Town, North Dakota. She called him "sweetheart" because he often cooed and loved to snuggle close to her. He hardly ever cried and was always happy.

Jake was born with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up around the brain and can increase pressure in the skull. This affected his vision, so he depended on his sense of touch. He liked to feel his mom's face and rub her arms. When someone came near, he would reach out to feel them. He loved exploring with his hands and grabbing his feet.

Jake was deeply loved. He had a favorite stuffed toy, a frog-bear, and would roll around to move from place to place. He liked to blow bubbles and raspberries, and was just starting to say "mom." He often woke up giggling and would entertain himself in the mornings. His favorite foods were mashed potatoes and fruit.

Jake had his first surgery when he was four months old. After his second surgery, he developed complications and was flown to Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo. On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at just one year and one month old, Jake Alden Richard was surrounded by his family as he passed away.

He was greeted in the spiritual world by his great-grandparents, June and Lawrence Lockwood, Janice White Body, and Janis Freeman; he was also welcomed by his aunt, January Yellow Lodge, and his uncles, Baby Yellow Lodge and Francis Black Bear; and many other relatives, including his paternal Deshotel family.

Jake is survived by his maternal family: loving mother, Laurie Yellow Lodge; his brothers, Anthony John Richard Jr. and Steven Joseph Horn Jr.; his grandma, June Conklin, and grandpa, Nathan Yellow Lodge; his aunties, Mary Youpee and Demi Yellow Lodge.; uncles, Chad Black, Nathan Yellow Lodge Jr, Nicolas Yellow Lodge, Gabriel Yellow Lodge, and Roger Yellow Lodge; other grandmas, Yolanda R. Lockwood and Ellen White Body; other grandpas, Frank Lockwood and Titus White Body; great-grandma, Jerolyn Longie; and his paternal family: father, Anthony Richard Sr. and his paternal Deshotel family.