Noreen White Bull
Noreen Beth IronBear White Bull, Grey Elk Woman, “Hehaka Hota Winyan”, 68, of Poplar died Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Poplar Community Hospital.
She was born Feb. 2, 1954, to Mary Red Feather Iron Bear and Harry R. Iron Bear Sr. in Chelsea. She was raised until they moved to the “old place” southwest of Poplar on the Iron Bear Estate, then onto the hill and eventually moved to the family home west of Poplar. She attended school at Poplar Schools.
She was an Oil Celebration Princess of 1972-73. She went off to Anadarko, Okla., Riverside Boarding School where she graduated in 1974.
The summers of ‘72-’74, she came home she babysat and cared for her niece Debra Granbois. She loved Debz as her own daughter.
She worked at NEMHS as a CNA for many years. She then moved on to the BIA Realty Department, where she worked for many years until she retired in 2007.
She enjoyed pow-wows. She enjoyed the music as well as watching grass dancers. She also loved cruising with lifetime partner, Jake White. She loved her sons, Merle and Jada, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She continued a lifelong friendship and relationship with Jake White Bull, giving birth to their son, Loudon IronBear White Bull. Reluctantly, life took them both in different paths and they separated for some years. During this time, she met and married Kenneth Olson Sr. From that marriage, she gave birth to Kenny Olson Jr. and Troy Olson. She and Kenny divorced and she remained single for some years. Jake moved back to Poplar and they found each other again and remarried.
She is survived by her sons, Loudon Iron Bear White Bull, Troy Iron Bear White Bull and Kenny Olson Jr.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, Gloria Buckles, Linda Lezard, Myra Daniels, Cheryl Boyd, James K. IronBear, Anthony IronBear, Ivan Roberts, Debra Granbois, Cindy Bear, Lisa IronBear, Harry III, Mandy and Heather Iron Bear.
She was preceded in death by brothers, Merle Iron Bear, Hoksina Harry Iron Bear Jr., Alfred Iron Bear Sr. and Lonnie Iron Bear; sisters, Sandra Red Elk, Betty Jo Iron Bear and Charmaine R. Iron Bear; husband, Jake White Bull; and granddaughters, Kenzlie Olson and Mikaela Mato Maza.
A wake was held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at the Poplar Cultural Center. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will follow at the Chelsea Cemetery.
