Obituary for Rosetta LeClair

Ponca City Now - March 1, 2017 3:24 pm

Rosetta Armand LeClair

September 2, 1926 – February 27, 2017

Rosetta Armond LeClair, Che-Mi, age 90 of Ponca City, Oklahoma passed away Monday February 27, 2017 at Alliance Health in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Funeral Services will follow the Otoe Traditional Noon Feast on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the Otoe Tribal Cultural Center under the direction of the Grace Memorial Chapel in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Friends may leave online condolences at www.gracememorialchapel.net.

Rosetta was born September 21, 1926 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Charles Byron Arkeketa and Ella (Little Standing Buffalo) Arkeketa. She grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma where she graduated from High School. Rosetta then received her associate’s degree at Haskell Indian College. She also attended NOC. Rosetta worked at Cobbs Restaurant and at Dry Cleaners in Ponca City.

Rosetta married Antonie LeClair in Ponca City, Oklahoma where the couple made their home. They owned and operated LeClair & LeClair Concrete Company. In younger years Rosetta was very athletic she rode horses, bulls and was also a trick rider for the 101 Ranch Rodeo Show in 1962. She played women’s fast pitch softball and pitched a no hitter at Wheeler Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Rosetta was a member of many organizations including the 101 Rodeo Foundation where she prepared beaded crowns for queens as well as crowning the new queen, she was the Grand Marshall of the Ponca City Parade in 2016, National AARP Honored Elder, Standing Buffalo Auxiliary member for the Ponca Tribe, White Star Organization in Indianapolis, Leader of Scalp Dance Society for Ponca Tribe, and was honored in the Museum of Oketo Kansas Arkeketa Descendants in 2004. She received the National Order of the Arrow and thru the years she has traveled the United States North, South, East and West.

Survivors include one daughter Tina Youker of Ponca City, step children; Mike LeClair of Ponca City, and Antoinetta LeClair of Ponca City, she was preceded by two step daughters Irene LeClair and Judy LeClair Eagle; survived by one sister Charlene Liebe of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 24 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by siblings Calvin Arkeketa, Freeman Arkeketa, Marcella Hairyback and Alfred Arkeketa.