Henry Lieb

Today our hearts are heavy because an honored elder of the Ponca tribe has spent his last day on this side.  Today our father, grandfather, relative and loving friend, Henry Arthur Lieb, Jr. has gone to heaven.  He was only 93 years old at the time of his passing.  He was a man who believed in family, truth and values, and a great spoiler of grandkids.  He was born on June 3, 1927 to Henry Irving Lieb, Sr. and Josephine Doris No Ear Lieb in Fox Town, Oklahoma. He was the oldest member of the Osage Clan of the Ponca Tribe.

He attended school at Pawnee & Chilocco.  After school he joined the US Navy where he proudly served his country as a brave soldier. He was stationed on several important battleships during the WWII. One ship was even involved in the nuclear bomb testing. Upon returning from the War, he was given a veteran song composed by Sylvester Warrior. He specialized in the history and the language of the Ponca Tribe. In doing so he assisted several tribes over the years with their language including the Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouria and the Northern Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. He was also one of the last fluent speakers of the Ponca Tribe and the last of the elder elders that served on the original Ponca Language Arts Council. During his time on the PLAC, they developed their version of the Ponca Alphabet which was duly adopted by the Ponca Business Committee.

He met and married the love of his life, Beulah E. Cries for Ribs Lieb in 1946.  They were happily married throughout her life. He later remarried Winnifred McIntosh. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Josephine, wife Beulah, daughter LaVera Collins, daughter Pamela Ingram, son Gregory Lieb and son Jeffrey Lieb, Sr. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his son Kinsel and his wife Patricia of Ponca City, daughter Rose Lieb-Ruff and her companion Stephen Heppler of Tonkawa, son Stephen Lieb of Tonkawa, 27 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, brother Andrew Lieb of Ponca City, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Graveside Tribal Service will be held at the Ponca Indian Cemetery of White Eagle beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020.  Family members are asked to gather at 1 p.m.  The funeral procession will leave Grace Memorial Chapel at 2016 N 14th Street Ponca City, OK 74601 at 1:30 p.m.  Condolences can be written online at www.gracememorialchapel.net