Obituary for Rosella DerRoin-Haragarra

Rosella Ruth DeRoin-Haragarra

August 1, 1942 – November 29, 2017

Our beloved mother, Rosella Ruth DeRoin-Harragarra, peacefully passed away in the presence of her loving family on Wednesday evening at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 75.

Rosella was born the daughter of Cleve & Julia DeRoin on August 1, 1942, in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Rosella was an proud member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians and the Bear Clan. Rosella was also a descendant from the Iowa Tribe. She was a renowned self-taught seamstress of traditional Otoe-Missouria attire. Our Otoe people are recognized throughout Indian Country and she was very proud of who she was, always presenting herself in a dignified and respectful manner with the teachings that were handed down from generations previous. Rosella attended and graduated from Chilocco Indian School and continued her higher education at Haskell Indian Junior College. In 1961, she was selected and served as the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Princess. Rosella served in many capacities including employment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Indian Health Services, Iowa Tribe, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. Rosella enjoyed traveling across Indian Country, participating in cultural events and made many friends. Rosella’s greatest joy was spending time with her beloved family.

Rosella is survived by her daughter, Nicole & husband, James LeClair, sons Quinn and Brian Harragarra; eight grandchildren – Marcus Neskahi, June Espinoza, Sasha Martinez, Julia Harragarra, Xeneca LeClair, Tatum, Nevah, and Trevah Harragarra; great grandchildren, Nalani, Alaina, Eugene Espinoza Jr., Nevaeh and Arayah Torres, Emmett Martinez, Athena Rose Collins; adopted sisters Sara Tsosie and Val Baca; family and friends.

Rosella is preceded in death by her parents Cleve and Julia DeRoin; sisters, JoAnn DeRoin, Mildred DeRoin-Watson, Lena DeRoin, Eva DeRoin, Delores Wood; brother, Cleve DeRoin, Jr.; and daughters, Angela and Bernadette Harragarra.

Casket Bearers will be James LeClair, Eugene Espinoza, Sr., Little Bear Littlecook, Shawn Wood, Alex Hawzipta, and AJ Aguilar. Honorary casket bearers will be Marcus Neskahi, Paul Tyndall, Lawrence DeRoin, Paul White, Preston and Will WalkingSky.

Services will be held at the Otoe-Missouria Community Building tonight at 7 p.m. Burial services will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Cemetery with Reverend Thomas Morris officiating. A dinner will follow the burial services at the Otoe-Missouria Community Center. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Donations may be made in her memory to the National Kidney Foundation. The guestbook may be signed at www.gracememorialchapel.net