Melissa White Bear, 27, of Bismarck, ND, formerly of White Shield, passed away on January 3, 2026, at her home.

Wake Services will begin at 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the Ralph Wells Community Center with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00 PM. Procession will leave Thompson Funeral Home at 4:00 PM to the Ralph Wells Community Center.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Ralph Wells Community Center in White Shield, ND. Burial to follow at the St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery (Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery), rural White Shield, ND.

Melissa was born in Fargo, ND. She was raised by her father Cary Roy, with the help of his sister Donna, Jon, and Grandma Celeste, along with other close relatives in Fargo. Cary and Melissa had a close relationship, one of the interests they shared was the love of sports. Cary taught her to play basketball, softball, and took her to practice for hockey. Melissa was a quick and agile, which made an excellent fit for her position as goalie for the Wahpeton hockey team. As a young woman she had the opportunity to play on many softball teams, of course making lasting friendships.

Melissa was a very smart child, she learned to read at an early age of two, she attended Eagles kindergarten in Fargo, were her cousin Wacey also attended. Only six months apart in age they were often together along with Cary when he took them sledding at the Red River levee, or they would race down the sidewalks on their bikes, the training wheels barely hitting the ground.

During her elementary years she lived with Grandma Celeste in Mooreton, ND, and attended school in Wahpeton. While still in high school she had a life time opportunity to travel to Paris France, where she left a long lasting impression with her caring, giving, loving, selfless personality to everyone she met there.

Melissa struggled with the challenges that so many of our young people face today. She did not graduate but she went on to earn her GED. She wanted to enjoy everything the world had to offer, so she made her decision to start her recovery journey.

Melissa was enthusiastic and always pushing to achieve more. When she was four months into her recovery, she pushed and prodded the Sahnish Sober Living Lodge director to let her be a house manager "I can be a house manager, I know I can do it" she said, it meant a lot to her for her recovery journey. Her sponsor Tiffney Dickens was by her side encouraging her all the way, as soon as she made her six months sobriety she was given the responsibility of fulfilling her ambition. Her recovery journey lead her to Bismarck, where she worked at the Good Road Recovery Center.

Again, she pushed herself to attend college, she was currently attending United Tribes Technical College studying Criminal Justice, she recently earned high honors for being on the Dean's List, though her hard earned efforts.

Melissa Faye was named after her maternal grandma, Clarinda Faye Baker, she comes from a huge family across the MHA Nation. She was raised to always recognize her relatives and greet them with respect. Melissa was always doing something with her siblings and she loved her nieces and nephews with all her heart. Whenever she was told about a family gathering such as weddings, graduations, birthdays or baptisms she'd always respond with "Okay, I put it in my calendar", there was no doubt that she'd show up. She never made a trip to New Town without popping in at her moms and auntie Leah's house to visit. Living in Bismarck meant she was always doing something with her siblings Riannon, and Tyler, even if it was just sitting on the couch watching TV enjoying each other's company. Family was such an important factor in her life and she will be missed greatly.

Melissa met Shantell, and they married November 7, 2025. Shantell will remember Melissa as the light of my life, my beautiful wife, and the person who knew my heart better than anyone else in this world. She had the biggest heart I've ever known-the kind that made you feel seen, safe, and deeply loved in a way that's impossible to put into words. To me, she wasn't just my partner, she was my best friend, my home, and my entire future. The love we shared was real, and it shaped me in ways I'll carry with me forever. She was one of the greatest people I've ever had the privilege of knowing and loving. The world is far emptier without her in it. I will carry her in my soul always.