Jolene Pretty On Top

Jolene White Clay Pretty On Top affectionately known to the White Clay family as “The Original” went to the Other Side Camp on February 19, 2022. Her Crow name is, Bahbeh Itchish (Good Day). She is a sister of the Big Lodge Clan and a daughter of the Ties the Bundle Clan. She was born in Crow Agency, MT on June 8, 1942, to Archie White Clay and Laura Wallace Singer. At a young age, Jolene spent a lot of time with her grandmothers Otter Stays in the Water and Fannie Stewart White Clay as well as her second mother, Lucy Wallace Real Bird. She was the eldest grandchild of Vernon White Clay Sr. and Fannie Stewart White Clay. She married John Pretty On Top and later divorced. Jolene was adopted into the Crow Tobacco Society by Matthew and Minnie Saco Goodluck. Until recently Jolene's Crow name was “Bia Waakuuwisseh” (Wealthy Woman), which was given to her as an infant by Jenny Medicine Crow. She passed on her name in 2019 to Carter Birdinground, the granddaughter of Claudia White Clay and Lydia Birdinground. She received the new name “Baabeh Itcheh” (Good Day) from her clan father Reuben DeCrane. Jolene graduated from Lodge Grass High School in 1961. She then attended Bacone College in Muscogee, OK, and attended colleges in Albuquerque, NM, and Denver, CO where she received her LPN license. She retired from the Indian Health Service after 37 years of dedicated service at the Crow Hospital and the Lodge Grass Clinic. She was a dedicated member of Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Lodge Grass and served as a Parish Council member and a Eucharistic Minister. She was a praying woman whose faith guided her and her loved ones. Throughout her life, she was honored with the opportunity to give many individuals their Crow Indian name, including the current Crow Tribal Chairman Frank White Clay. She respected, participated, and supported the Crow Way of life spiritually and socially. She respected the Tobacco Society, Clan System, Sweat Lodge, Sun Dance, and the Native American Church. She enjoyed teasing members of her teasing clan and her brothers-in-law. She enjoyed push dancing and playing hand game, and she always provided gifts for her family to give away. Jolene was a true Lodge Grass Indian fan, although she was a Plenty Coups Warrior fan where her grandchildren play basketball, her heart was always in Lodge Grass “LG Baby”. Jolene was an avid beader, seamstress, and designer with expertise in floral designs. She made numerous sets of regalia for her children, grandchildren, and sisters-in-law. Jolene was not a selfish person, she was kind, caring, and generous, especially to her sisters-in-law. She was always there to support her family with any activity or endeavor. Jolene wasn't one to boast about her generosity and did not expect anything in return. She gave, out of the goodness of her heart. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) “Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10) Jolene worked hard for what she had, one of her accomplishments that she was truly excited about was becoming a homeowner and paying off her home during her lifetime. She never waited around for someone else to give her things, she just went and took care of what she needed. Jolene had a favorite saying referring to her daughter and many other young women in her life. That saying is “Bia-wah-cha-ji-wic” meaning a very capable woman, and that is what Jolene was. She is preceded in death by parents: Archie White Clay and Laura Wallace Singer; grandparents: Richard Wallace, Otter Stays in the Water; and John Wallace, Vernon and Fannie White Clay, and Nettie White Clay White Fox. Family includes son: Dennis Big Hair, Jr.; granddaughter: Marissa Real Bird; uncles: Earnest Gets Down, Guy, Phillip Sr., Vernon Jr., Harold, and Robert Brien White Clay; aunts: Lucy Wallace Real Bird, Susie Wallace Spotted, Annie Plenty Good Old Crow; and Kathleen Gets Down, Edith Big Lake, Marie Yellowtail, Emily Lincoln, Martha White Clay, Alice Mea Laforge, Wilma Brien White Clay, Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Naomi White Fox; brothers: Victor and Clifford Jr Singer, Coey and Richard Real Bird, Ross Owen Old Crow, Monty Ray and Richard White Clay; sisters: Lois Laurette Singer, Manuella Real Bird, Euna Rose He Does It, Amanda and Susanna Old Crow, Joy Old Crow Matt, Aline and Regina Pretty On Top, Lauren Spint, Bonnie White Clay, Rachel Beatty, Phyliss Plain Bull, Roslyn Hill, Alpha Old Coyote, Ramona Left Hand, Jenine Turns Plenty, Marie Lincoln, Lois White Hip, Roberta Brien, Marlene Whiteman, Diane Old Elk, Bernadette Stewart, Veda Rock Above and Nellie Moccasin. Tobacco Society siblings: Tex, Ralph, Aloysius, Leo, Jenny Mary Good Luck, and Julia Black Eagle; Lincoln and Big Lake Brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter Martha Lynn (Lawrence) DeCrane; grandsons: Rumeal (Ashley) Good Luck, Trevor and Canaan Big Hair, Liddon and Blake DeCrane, Riley Singer; granddaughter Lawren DeCrane great grandsons: Ivis and Koye Good Luck, and Niko Big Hair, Miles Singer; great granddaughters: Yvonne, Axziliiy and Canani Big Hair; daughters whom she raised; Kandis, Rose Lee, and Sloane Real Bird; stepsons: Jackson (LeeAnn) Pretty On Top, Dale Dean Pretty On Top; grandsons; Jonathan Blaine Big Lake, Jr., Korbin Bement, Hudson and Bridger Flatlip and Josh Pretty On Top; granddaughters: Kenadee and Jazmyn Big Lake, Aubrey Tyon, Molly and Blair Bement, Kathleen Real Bird, Madison Flatlip, and Jacquline Pretty On Top; great grandchildren: Hazlyn and Ryatt Tyon, Calais McCormick, and Kyrie White Woman; brothers: Newton Old Crow, Sr. Henry, Kennard, and Jim Real Bird, Dewight Stewart, Hugh, Ronald, Joe, Vernon Buzzy III, Franklin, Clinton, Delano, and Kenneth White Clay, Ruben Yellowtail, Vernon and Larry Brien, Wayne Howe, Bill Lincoln, Willy Bradley, and Ronald Stiff Arm; sisters: Susie and Martha Singer, Birdie Real Bird, Lark Paz, Katherine Old Crow, Janice Singer, Anda Pretty On Top, Jacquline Stewart, Janice Wilson, Janice Gets Down, Donna Lee Stands, Berdina Stewart, Louise Doyle, Clarice Denny, Myra Left Hand, Loretta Three Irons, Joyce Laforge, Francine Small, Debbie Gust, Sherry Lou Laforge, Mary Ten Bear, Verna Koch, Rosemary Lincoln, Susan Yellowtail, Claudia Bernardis, Cheri Real Bird, Clydine White Clay, Verna Jefferson, Donna Nelson, Rebecca Jefferson, Laura Rose, Beverly, and Jolene Beaumont White Clay, Valerie and Bobalene Brien, Veda Iron-Rodriguez, Melanie Little Wolf, Evangeline Pryor, Dollie, Gloria, Katherine, and Margaret Stiff Arm, Mable Ann Lincoln, Gloria Good Luck; uncle Harold Tommy White Clay; aunts: Veronica White Clay and Rebecca White Clay-Buffalo; nephews: Chairman Frank White Clay, Tom White Clay, Richard and Terry Singer, Randolph Big Day,Sr. Mark Bruised Head, Jess, Mark, Hamley, James, Jack, John, Wacey, Peter, Lex, Milo; nieces: Otter, Belicia and Elishia Big Day, Annie Singer, Rachel and Dorothy Pretty On Top. Annie Beth, LeeAnn Bruised Head, Collette, Lucy Lee, Martina, Georgette Hogan, Goldie, Jordynn Paz; numerous nieces and nephews of both Maternal and Paternal sides of her family; maternal extended family: Wallace, Otter Stays in Water, Yellowmule, William Brass, Fog in the Morning, Star, Cooper, Pease, Reed, Chatham, Sends Part Home (Half), Old Elk, Sam Birdinground Descendents, Margaret Wallace descendants; paternal extended family: Pretty Eagle Descendents, White Clay, Stewarts, Morrison, Bull Chief, White, Old Crow, White Fox, Bradley, Stiffarm, Shortman, Colliflower, Capture, Fox & Yellowtail. Jolene had a special place in her heart for all her co-workers from her 37 years working for IHS too many to name, but you know who you are, and just know she loved you all. Special Thanks to Donna and Clydine and the entire staff at Heritage Acres, and Big Horn County Hospital staff.