Delores Wilkinson, 88, White Shield, died on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at a Bismarck hospital.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 3, at 10:00 am at the Old White Shield School Gym.  A procession will leave Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison at approximately 9:00 am.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm with a rosary to be said at 6:00 pm.  Visitation will continue until 7:30 following the rosary, all of which are at Thompson Funeral Home.

Delores Ann Wilkinson, Arikara name, "Mother Standing", was born to Leona (Yellow Bird) Deane and William Deane, Jr. in old Elbowoods, ND on January 31, 1933.

She attended Elbowoods High School and graduated in 1955.  While attending St. Benedicts College in St. Joseph, Minnesota, she earned degrees in Sociology, Secondary education, U.S. History and Philosophy.  She also attended Minot State University for special graduate classes.  Delores had a lifetime teaching certification issued from North Dakota Department of Education.

She was interested in Arikara history, Tribal, State, and Federal government.

Delores served on several Boards and Commissions - White Shield School Board, Reservation Education Committee, Housing Board, Legal Service Board, Fort Berthold Reservation School Board.

She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 253, member of Sahnish Culture Society and the White Shield Spirit Riders.

Delores was employed at the Fort Berthold Community College for 25 years.  She served there as an Instructor, Counselor, Special Services Director and became the Dean of Students until her retirement in 2002.  She taught an Arikara Culture and Language Class for the FBCC after her retirement.  She always said, "I don't claim to know everything or to be totally fluent, but I am willing to share what I know."  She believed the Sahnish people will continue to the future and that "Néshanu Nechetak" (our Creater) has blessed us as a people.

She liked preparing Sahnish traditional foods and roasting corn in the old Arikara way.  She also enjoyed game shows, country & western music, bingo, casino and visiting relatives and friends.

Her first family was with Myron White Bear, Sr.  They had four sons and four daughters:  Myron David  White Bear, Jr., James (Teresa) White Bear, Keller, TX, Michael White Bear, and Jeffrey (Tammi) White Bear, San Manuel, AZ., Bernadette (Rick Hall) White Bear, White Shield, ND, Marti (Terry) Stevenson, Bismarck, ND, Kathryn White Bear, Garrison, ND and Sharon White Bear, Fargo, ND.

Her second family was with Howard Wilkinson, Sr.  They had Diane (Bill) McLaughlin, White Shield, ND, Tillie Wilkinson, White Shield, ND, and Howard "Joey" Wilkinson, Jr.

She loved her family, her 16 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.  She has many nieces, nephews, and relatives whom she loved.

She is survived by her sister, Kathrine Real Bird, Crow Agency, MT and her brother, Matthew Mason, New Town, ND.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Leona and William Deane Jr., husband, Howard Wilkinson, Sr., sons, Myron David White Bear, Michael White Bear, and Howard "Joey" Wilkinson, Jr., sisters, Marie Wells and Marcella White, brothers, Kenneth Deane, Sr., and Gerald Deane, granddaughter, Lisa Wilkinson.

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