Ruthie Shoulderblade, age 68, of Birney

Ruthie Shoulderblade, Our beloved and cherished mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, colleague, and mentor was called back to Maheo on Monday September 16^th, 2024. Ruthie passed away at the St. Vincent Hospital in Billings MT, where she was surrounded by family and her loved ones. Ruthie’s Cheyenne name is Voestaa’e meaning White Buffalo Standing Woman. Ruthie was born on December 23, 1955 to James David Strange Owl and Grace Redneck Strange Owl. She grew up in Birney with her parents and siblings in a traditional Cheyenne home, where her first language was Cheyenne. Ruthie started her education at Birney Day School, attended Lame Deer Elementary and graduated from St. Labre High School.  Ruthie went on to college attending Durango College, Eastern Montana College and Rocky Mountain College. She graduated top of her class at Rocky Mountain College where she received her Accounting Degree. She earned the “Summa cum laude” which is the highest honor award by educational institutions. It is given to students whose academic performance and mastery of their chosen field exceeded beyond the other students. This is a very high and respected honor as she earned her yellow cords. Education was very important to Ruthie as this built the foundation for her job as an accountant for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Ruthie started off her employment at Chief Dull Knife College for ten years before she began her employment with the tribe. At Dull Knife she worked with Rhoda Glenmore (Punks), Donna Small and Leslie Evertz. She always told stories about her two cowgirl friends making it to the INFR. She enjoyed her employment with them. And was very close to Rhoda with their friendship. Ruthie then started her employment with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe as an accountant. This job was high importance to her. Ruthie worked for the tribe for 42 years. Ruthie showed pride in all her work. She was the accountant for some big programs within the tribe, the Northern Cheyenne Board Of Health and Northern Cheyenne Head Start. Ruthie was considered by many of her peers to be instrumental to the success of the Northern Cheyenne Tribes Central Finance Department. Ruthie helped write and establish the Central Finance Mission Statement and Values which are still in practice to this day. Ruthie’s leadership and support for her Tribes Finance Division was proven long standing tenure and work ethic as she always strived to be accountable for her work on time, communicating, implementing standards, displaying high degree of work accomplishments in practice, and respected for her expert advice. Ruthie would often work outside of regular hours to complete work, and assisted with other tasks as well in order to support the overall Finance goal and objectives. Ruthie’s attention to detail and pride in her work were complemented by many professionals throughout her career. Ruthie was considered a mentor for many co-workers within the Finance program and made time to always say encouraging words and share fellowship dinners with them. Her finance friends always meant a lot to her and she thought very highly of them, Lorna Sioux, Kristi Harris, Tami Ontiveros, Stephanie Pretty Boy, Jordan Knowshisgun, Adam Spang, Trixy Phelan, Renae Bearquiver, Eleece Lei, Edina Red Star, Ramona Stump and Ray Heaton. Ruthie always carried love and showed love to everyone. Ruthie met the love of her life, Don “Porkchops” Shoulderblade where they walked hand and hand in their marriage until he passed in 2021. Don and Ruthie were together and married for 48 years. This love was unique in its own way. Living in the ceremonial way was a very important part of their marriage. Porkchops was the Keeper of the Sacred Hat for many years, in which meant Ruthie was a keeper also. She helped and supported her husband and earned her paint in the Sacred Hat teepee. She stayed home and did her role as the keepers wife, cooking and praying and helping her husband as he helped our Cheyenne People. Ruthie and Don traveled a lot to many different pow wows and enjoyed life together.  They had three children, Keith, Halona and Thomas whom they raised together at the family home teaching them to be traditional and the importance of the power of prayer and passing down traditional teachings to them. Later on having a house full of grandchildren as well as having a lot of nieces and nephews visiting them from childhood to adulthood. Ruthie and Porkchops always had visitors from people all around Indian Country. They always welcomed and fed drum groups that would stop in and see them whom became thier drum family. Southern Cree, Mystic River, Young Spirit, White Clay, White Lodge, Young Bear, Dry Lake and Midnite Express were among the drum groups that were welcomed in their home. Ruthie also excelled with her bead work, knowing the Sacred designs and Chief designs and the meanings behind them. She also beaded her son Thomas’s fully beaded traditional outfits using the family designs and made them with treasured motherly love, in which will be passed down generation to generation. We will always remember Ruthie as a beautiful, faithful, true Cheyenne woman that carried herself with the utmost humble, respectful and sacred way. Ruthie was also Miss Northern Cheyenne when she was younger and represented her crown proudly. We would like to acknowledge Ruthie’s Special Daughter In Law, Jacquelyn Tanna and Special Friend Penny Ewan for always caring and helping her with daily support and being there for her. We would also like to thank the staff that helped care for Ruthie, St. Vincent Hospital, Advance Care, Rehab of Montana, Skyline Heights, and High Gate and also Crow Hospital.  And to Stevensons and Sons funeral home for always helping our family and treating us good and taking care of our loved ones. Survivors include: her sons Keith (Jacquelyn) Terry, Sossity, Kadyen; Thomas (Jayda, Jaleigh, Nakoda, Hokshila, Rebel, Niko) Sisters: Florence(Mike) Running Wolf; Charlotte(Tom) Rockroads, Sister In Law; Wilma Shoulderblade, Adopted sons Terry Brockie ( Tanya) Titan, Truth; David Running Rabbit (Talea, Kyloni) also special brother in law Iron John Blackwolf. Adpoted daughter, Lisa Fe. Ruthie is on her journey to meet her loved ones, her husband Porkchops, daughter Halona, her parents; James and Grace Strange Owl, her beloved siblings. Ruthie is survived by families,  Strange Owl, Redneck, Bellymule, Pine, Night Walker, and Shoulderblade families.

Service Schedule

Traditional Wake

7:00 PM

Thursday September 19, 2024

Ruthie's Home

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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Funeral Service

10:00 AM

Friday September 20, 2024

Lame Deer High School Gymnasium

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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Interment

Following the Funeral Service

Friday September 20, 2024

Pius Basin Cemetery

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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