Vaughan L. 'Sonny' Bybee

Sonny's younger years were spent with his seven siblings playing along the banks of Mission Creek, where their mother devoted her time in ensuring they were educated and prepared for the outside world. He attended grade school in Culdesac and high school in Lewiston.

In 1959, he met and married Elaine Ellenwood, and of this marriage had two daughters, Vonda LaRae and Valda LeAnn. Throughout these years, he became an accomplished drywall professional. Sonny and Elaine were later divorced.

In 1964, while residing in Portland, Ore., Sonny met and married Linda Rogers, and from this marriage he had two daughters, Venita Linda and April Lily. Sonny and Linda moved to Winchester, where he became employed as a city policeman. This marriage ended in divorce.

In 1975, Sonny met and married Elizabeth Crowe, and they made their home in Lapwai. They also had two daughters, Vonetta "Missy" Lynn and Vania Lashel. Sonny also gained a son, Bryan Terrell. During this time, he was employed as the supervisor of the Nez Perce Tribe maintenance department, where he finally retired.

Sonny was multi-talented; he was a mechanic, a woodworker, a gunsmith, a silversmith, an avid outdoorsman, a fur trapper and a historian, to name a few. He was very skilled in making jewelry, building guns from stock to barrel, carving his own bass fishing plugs and building beautiful cabinets and shelving. Sonny's family still treasures handmade items he gifted to them over the years. He truly was an amazing artisan.

Sonny was a well-known man in the tribal community as a hunter and fisherman. He was most known and respected for his leadership and cultural values during the Rapid River Standoff in 1980, also known as the Second Nez Perce War. He was one of 32 enrolled Niimiipuu who stood alongside the banks of the Rapid River, proclaiming and defending their 1855 treaty rights and exercising them despite the state's ban on fishing. Sonny was arrested multiple times and, following his release, he returned to the river banks to continue fishing and fighting for what he believed in; what all Niimiipuu believe in.

Sonny's family will always remember their father as a handsome, intelligent, proud Nez Perce warrior who cherished his treaty rights and loved his family. Sonny lived his entire life as a true "Renaissance man," as he possessed many talents, contained a wealth of knowledge and was accomplished in many areas.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Anna May Campbell and Emma Fliger Mills; and brother Emil Fliger.

He is survived by his sisters, Naomi "Chris" Pearsall and Pauline "Betty" Fliger; brothers Tony Bybee and Harold Paul; seven children, including his daughters, Vonda Bybee, Valda Bybee-Conklin, Venita Bybee, April Bybee, Vonetta Bybee and Vania Bybee, and son Bryan Crowe; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A family viewing was held Wednesday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Pi Nee Waus Community Center in Lapwai. A dinner for family and friends will follow.