Ronald Isaac Whiteclay

Ronald Isaac Whiteclay, affectionately known as “Uncle Shobie”, of south of Hardin was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday morning October 22, 2023.

Uncle Shobie was born March 21, 1951 in Crow Agency, the son of Guy Whiteclay and Eloise Plenty Hoops Whiteclay. He was a member of the Big Lodge clan and a child of the Ties the Bundle clan.  When he was quite young, the family moved to southern California and lived there until the family moved back to Billings, Montana. He attended Hardin and Billings schools through his adolescent years and went on to Bell High School after the family moved back to California.  He received his GED at SIPI (Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute) in Albuquerque and attended Eastern Montana College. When living in California, he was an active participant in rodeos. He started bull riding at the age of 15 and as he got older, he switched to saddle bronc riding.

After the family again returned from California, he was a ranch hand on the Grapevine Ranch. He then worked for Tony Bear Don’t Walk as a bricklayer. He and Tony Bear participated in rodeos in Montana, Washington and Oregon.

He was a faithful Pentecostal at the Foursquare, Harvest Time and Black Lodge churches. His pastors were the Rev. James Roper, the Rev. Phillip White Clay and the Revs. Bill and Juanita Humphries. He had great knowledge of Bible scriptures and served the Lord throughout his life. He would spend hours reading, studying the Bible and sharing the word of God with everyone. He would sing gospel songs with family and always kept his nieces, nephews and grandchildren in prayer. Whenever he saw them, he always let them know he was praying for them and told them to pray. He had nicknames for his nieces, nephews and grandchildren.  He was known for his sense of humor and was always teasing everyone.

He is a descendant of Chiefs Two Belly and Pretty Eagle as well as interpreter Tom Stewart. He was also a great grandson of White Clay on the Forehead.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings John Fredrick, Howard and Bonnie Whiteclay and adopted brother Edwin T. Springfield; his aunts Alice Mae Tobacco, Carol White Clay, Peggy Joyce Plenty Hoops, Phyllis Plenty Hoops Spotted Horse, Alice Mae Laforge, Martha White Clay, Edith Big Lake, Emily Lincoln, Marie Yellowtail, Naomi, Eleanor and Elizabeth White Fox and Eloise Johnson; his uncles David and Hugh Plenty Hoops, Vernon Jr., Phillip Sr., Archie, and Harold White Clay and Robert White Clay-Brien; his sisters Susie and Phylene Big Man, Rachel Beatty, Eleanor Plenty Hawk, Jolene White Clay, Regina Stewart, Cheryl Plenty Hoops, Marjorie Aline Pretty On Top, Gladys Jefferson and Marlene Thomas; his brothers Monte Ray, Tyrone and Richard White Clay, Philip White Clay, Jr., Clinton Laforge, Willard, Paul, Martin Jr. and Stanley Spotted Horse, Franklin, Garland and David Plenty Hoops Jr., Willie Bradley; grandsons Monte Vidal White Clay and Tyler Joe.

Survivors include adopted sons Deacon, Noah, Guy, Sid, Timmy, Archer, Chey Jr. and Weston Whiteclay, Malakai and Zac Birdinground Jr.; adopted daughters Brooke and Jazmyn Whiteclay, Eloise and Carter Birdinground; nephews Chey, Micah, Frank and Thomas White Clay; nieces Nicole Whiteclay, Whitney Bernardis, Paulette Birdinground, Angie Spotted Horse, Dawn Plenty Hoops, Caroline Pretty Weasel, Tiffany, Destiny, Jamie and Peggy Whiteclay;  sisters Claudia (Tim) Bernardis, Agatha (Bruce) House, Veronica, Beverly and Laura Rose White Clay, Rebecca Buffalo, Verna Koch, Cheri (Mark) Real Bird, Colleen (Walter) Old Elk, Dannel Vernd, Clydine Whiteclay, Sandra (Myron) Shields, Karen (Tim) Rindal, Tina Takes Enemy, Mary Ten Bear,Debbie Gust, Francine Small and Joyce LaForge; brothers Vernon III (Jolene), Delano (Alta), Clinton (Kathleen), Kenneth, Hugo and Joe White Clay and Kenneth (Fanny) Plenty; uncles Tom (Cheryl) White Clay and Franklin (Rebecca) Whiteclay; and good friend Clyde Little Light; as well as the extended families of Plenty Hoops, White Fox, Dawes, Takes Enemy, White Hip, Back Bone,  Stewart, Morrison, Bradley, Shortman, Stiff Arm and Fox. Our family is very large, if we have missed anyone please accept our apology.

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