Funeral services for 63-year old Patricia White Bear Claws are Friday, Jan 29, 2021 at 1:30 at the Rowland residence, ¼ mile north of Pine Ridge, SD, with Sister Barb Bogenschutz officiating and traditional Lakota services by Jeff White Bear Claws and Ohitika Tasso
Burial is at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Cemetery, Oglala, SD
Visitation precedes the services on Friday from 9:00 – 1:30 PM, also at the Rowland residence
Patricia Angela White Bear Claws was born on September 8, 1957 in Crawford, NE to Lyle Verdale White Bear Claws, Sr. and Phoebe Mae (Hawk) Thunder Horse. Patricia made her journey to the Spirit World on January 22, 2021 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Patricia attended grade schools in Crawford and Scottsbluff, NE and earned her G.E.D. and A.A. in Elementary Education with Oglala Lakota College.
Patricia married Stephen Rowland on March 17, 1974 in Wolf Creek, SD. To this union they added four daughters, Sharon, Carrie, Kimberly, and Phoebe Rowland.
The family moved to Glasco, MT, in 1974, but later returned to Pine Ridge, SD. Patricia worked for O.S.T. Public Safety as a dispatcher, then returned to Ashland, MT from 1974 – 1989. Patricia worked a few years at St. Labre Indian School as a house parent while in Montana.
In 1989, she returned to Oglala where she took nursing classes with Oglala Lakota College and worked at Pine Ridge High School Special Department as a teacher. She was a pre-school teacher at Wolf Creek for many years and her last job was as a Child Care Provider.
During her free time, she spent cheering at ball games, reading to her grandchildren, doing puzzles with family and friends, and loved taking care of her yard, garden, and gazebo. Her laugh and smile were always present in poker and pool games and while listening to her golden oldies. She always listened and gave advice from the heart.
Patricia is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Leonard) Rowland, Ashlee Red Cloud, Carrie Rowland, and Phoebe (Joey) Rowland; sons, Matte Bad Heart Bull and Trevor Red Cloud; siblings, Joe White Bear Claws, Marjorie White Bear Claws, Rodney White Bear Claws Lea White Bear Claws Jeff (Tamra) White Bear Claws, and Harold (Joan) White; grandchildren, Shawna Rowland, Alyssa (Ron) Her Many Horses, Louis (Laney) Her Many Horses, Josie Briseno, Hoksila Briseno, Mahpiya Briseno, Aliyah White Butterfly, Manuel White Butterfly, Mario White Butterfly, Jr., Danielle (Arthur) Walking, Angel Walking, and Joseph Walking, Jr.; and great grandchildren, Shawn Apple, Raegan Her Many Horses, Stephen Briseno, and Eveliah Walking.
Patricia was preceded in death by her daughter, Kimberly Rowland; son-in-law, Bernie Red Cloud; ex-husband, Stephen Rowland; mother, Phoebe Mae (Hawk) Thunder Horse; step-father, Paul Thunder Horse; father, Lyle Verdale White Bear Claws, Sr.; brothers, Silas, Edward, & Michael White Bear Claws; maternal grandparents, Tal & Jennie (Hat) Hawk; uncles, Joseph & Steve, Sr. Hawk, Tillie & Bill White; aunts, Sarah Forney and Mavis & Robert Lamont; cousins, Owen Patton, Steve Hawk, Jr., Robert “Duke” Jensen, Jennifer Hawk, and Beverly Hawk; nephew, Eugene “JoJo” Simmon; and granddaughter, Maria White Butterfly.
Pallbearers will be Joey Walking, Leonard Her Many Horses, Hoksila Briseno, Mahpiya Briseno, Manuel White Butterfly, Mario White Butterfly, Jr., Louis Her Many Horses, Joseph Walking, jr., Arthur Pulliam, and Ohitika Tasso.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bryan Blue Bird, Jr., Theresa Hunter, Ann Two Bulls, Kathy Bettelyoun, Faith Yellow Boy, Sister Barb Bogenschutz, Sharon Two Bulls, Charlie Standing Soldier, Nicole, Nick, & Nigel White Bear Claws, Jennifer, George, & Michael Simmons, Susie, Silas, Lisa, & Pearl Star, Leland & Dante White Bear Claws, Tillie & Joy Hawk, Robert & Saadia Tasso, Gabe Chief Eagle, Aiden Goings, Pru, Nichelle, & Dalene Myers, Christy, Steph, & Sean Hawk & Grandchildren, Sandy Mabin, Mitzi Big Crow, Cheryl Forney, Madonna, Paul Jean, Shaina, River, & Wakinyan Forney, Elden Forney, Thomas Patton, Louise White Butterfly & Family, Mario White Butterfly, Sr., Victoria Little Moon, Jenny Briseno & Family, Jenny Waters, Chris, Travis, Monique, & Sienna White Bear Claws, Sharon Stands & Family, Delbert & Elizabeth Rowland & Family, Dana Stoldt, Joe, Lisa, Rueben, & Carlos Picotte & Family, Chris & Jessica Eagle Hawk & Family, Angie & Willie Richards & Family, Audrey Shields & Family, Dana Richards & Family, Dave, Alf, & Lance Leftwich & Family, Betty Schultz, Patricia Catches, Shane & Alaia Star, Sidney Jealous of Him, Patrick Jealous of Him, David Rabbit, Robin Her Many Horses & Family, Sheryl Her Many Horses & Family, Pam Ten Fingers & Family, Steven Two Bulls, Walking Family, Blacksmith Family, Pine Ridge High School Special Education Department, OST Childcare, Wolf Creek School, Cheyenne River Group Home, Family and Friends from Montana, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD