Dean Rice Littlestar

 This past Monday, Dean Littlestar, Mother’s only living cousin, passed from this life to be forever with the Lord she loved and served.

According to my grandmother's family records, Delores Dean Rice was born on October 27, 1932, in Belford west of Ralston. This darling of her mother probably earned that recognition since she was the last baby to be born to Ernest and Daisy Rice.
            "Dean" as she came to be known, was Daisy's daughter but had the fire of her aunt, Gladys Rainey Smith, my grandmother. She was creative like my grandma since she trained her little blind dog to clean under the kitchen table, lessening Dean's need to sweep with the broom!

     Dean Rice - the most serious
     photo I have seen of her. It is the
     earliest photograph of Dean in
    Grandma's vintage photograph
    collection. Afterthought - maybe
    that determined look enabled her
    to accomplish so much.

     

            Her musical talent was on full display during the Christmas season of 1944. For the Christmas program that year, my mother taught Dean, Marilyn,their other cousin, and Nadine Clifton to sing “White Christmas” in three-part harmony. That level of singing was quite an accomplishment for the three preteens, as well as for my mother who coached them to a flawless performance! Singing three-part harmony was quite a feat for girls from a country school!  Another similarity with her Aunt Gladys because Grandma was a note-perfect alto singer.

          Dean married Al Littlestar, a tall, handsome young man of Osage descent. Dean had an out-going personality much like that of my Grandma. Both Al and my grandpa, Calvin Callcayah, also of Native American descent - Cherokee, would be considered reserved compared to Dean and Grandma.
            Grandma did much nursing pro bono during the Great Depression and World War II. As soon as Dean was old enough, Grandma discovered that Dean enjoyed assisting her with caring for the sick in the community. From that point on, the twosome headed out on many medical adventures in the Big Bend.
            This desire to reach out and help others continued when Dean and Al moved from the Bend. She loved to entertain. An amazing account in her life involved friends from Texas coming to visit Dean and Al in Colorado. Shockingly, the couple's baby arrived early. The couple sadly had to return to their home in Texas before the baby could be released from the hospital’s care. So, who visited the preemie every day—their friend, Dean. She delighted in checking on that little one until the joyous day of discharge came.

Gary, Dean, Al, and Mark Littlestar in 1978.

          Dean told me one of her sons asked about the origin of the family's legacy of faith. Dean replied, "Aunt Gladys - she made sure we were in the community Sunday School and church." Grandma was pushy with her faith much to the disgust of those who didn't share her love of the Lord. She was an aggressive believer in Jesus and His impact on her life. She felt she had lost the first thirty years of her life since she did not commit her life to Him until her father's death just prior to her thirty-first birthday. She didn't want any one else to delay repenting and receiving the power to live a life pleasing to Him.

           Dean continued ministering to women through prayer groups and Bible studies. Being a cancer survivor caused many hurting women to listen to her witness for Christ and ask for her prayers.

My mother, Bernyce Smith Gates, and Dean Rice Littlestar enjoying 
the Burbank High School Reunion in the Summer of 2008.

            All of us who knew and loved Dean have memories by which her legacy continues - her infectious laughter, her love and concern for people, her loving devotion to her family, and love of the Lord with a wholehearted commitment that she lived out daily. She would tell us to laugh often and cheerfully. Her advice would insist we genuinely love those God sends across our paths. With pride and admiration, her eyes would light up as she admonished us to sacrificially love our families in ways that deeply enrich their souls. Finally, she would implore every loved one, friend, and acquaintance to prepare for death, as she had, by receiving Jesus and committing to follow Him daily with loving obedience.