Clairene Tucker, 89

Clairene was born in Rosebud, SD to Jennie Nelson Cloud and Oliver White Hat on September 11, 1932. She grew up in Rosebud and Lakeview, SD. Her mother Jennie worked at the Rosebud hospital and when she stayed with her, Clairene and her cousin, Noah “Punk” Pretty Bird would ride their horses all day throughout the canyons around Rosebud. They grew up together like brother and sister. They also stayed most of the time in Lakeview with their Grandma and Grandpa Bill and Agnes Yellow Robe. Their grandparents built a livery on their allotment and ran a half-way house in Lakeview, which served as a stopover for the Rosebud Agency supply shipments coming from Fort Niobrara, Nebraska. Agnes would cook and bake for the men and Bill would feed and provide water for the horses. Clairene had a wonderful childhood and loved to share her stories about growing up with Grandma and Grandpa Yellow Robe.

Clairene married Phillip Eugene Graeff. This marriage produced a son, Noah Richard “Sandy” Graeff. Phillip was killed in a car accident, leaving Clairene a widow in her early twenties. Afterward, Clairene lived in Rapid City and met Glenn Dale Tucker, recently discharged from the Navy. Glenn said he was looking for the prettiest girl in Rapid to marry. He found her when he met Clairene. They married and moved to Valentine to make their home. They had two more children, Linda Susan Tucker and Mark Dale Tucker.

Clairene spent most of her life on the Rosebud Reservation except for a brief time in Rapid City and Brookings, SD.

Clairene was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Glenn Dale Tucker; son Mark Dale Tucker (Rhonda); grandson Phillip Dale Tucker; mother Jennie Cloud; father Oliver White Hat; her sisters: Roselyn White Quills and Betty Blindman and brothers: Norman Red Bird, and Sylvan and Ambrose White Hat.

Clairene leaves behind her son Noah “Sandy” Tucker and wife Nancy and daughter Linda Tucker Szabo and husband Paul.

Clairene is also survived by her brother Conrad White Hat; grandchildren: Matthew (Tara) Tucker, Jesse (Amy) Tucker, Bill (Georgia) Tucker, Mark (Autumn) Tucker, Jeannie Tucker, Sandee Rae Tucker, Jenny Tucker (Arik) Hovelsen, Heather Tucker (Casey) Lurz, Brian (Angie) Szabo, Paul (Kristy) Szabo Jr., Jennifer, Stormy and Amanda Jackson; and 36 great grandchildren: Jonah and Jade Chasing Hawk, (Jeannie); Ramsey, Rhea and Rezelle Tucker (Matthew); Haven Tucker (Jesse); Philicia (Phillip); Dawson Emmett (Sandee); Gavin and Gage Tucker (Mark Jr.); Connor, Sadie, and Carter Lurz (Heather); Jaydn Wilcox, Kamryn, Makynna, Keaton and Savanna Tucker (Bill); Delanie, Gracie, Everleigh, Berkeley, Max and Arica (Jenny); Michael and Kristen Waln & Myles, Riley and Braden Szabo (Glenn); Ben, Eli and Grae Szabo (Brian); Madison, Kiley, Haley, Daniel, Oakley, Osias and Alena Jackson.

Services were held Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Trinity Episcopal Church in in Mission, SD with burial following at St. Agnes Cemetery, Lakeview, SD. Holmes Funeral Home of Valentine was entrusted with the arrangements.