Judy (White Bear) Fredericks

Judy Fredericks, Steéšu’taká “White Corn”, 78, of Bismarck, ND formerly of Twin Buttes, ND passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2022. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Twin Buttes with Fr. Joseph Evinger officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

A wake will begin at 5:00 PM CDT on Monday, June 20 at Twin Buttes Wellness Center, Twin Buttes.

Judy Faye Fredericks was born on December 18, 1943, at Nishu on the Ft. Berthold Indian reservation. Her parents were Matthew White Bear Sr. and Alice Eagle White Bear. She was the great-granddaughter of Sitting Bear. Judy was adopted into the Knife Clan by her sister Gwen Hostler, which was witnessed by Rose Marie and Tony Mandan. She attended school in Nishu, Elbowoods, and White Shield, where she graduated in 1961. She then attended Sawyer Business school in California for two years where she learned all the tools that would carry her through her professional career. She then moved home where she worked for White Shield Head Start from 1963 to 1968 where she realized her love of working with children. She then relocated to Bismarck, ND, and began her employment with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and later for Vocational Rehabilitation. Around this time, she met the love of her life, John “Buzz” Fredericks. As they became more serious, she began to travel between Twin Buttes and Bismarck working by his side for the National Indian Cattlemen's Association. By 1973, she moved to Twin Buttes full-time where she ranched with her husband and their children. In 1990, she began working for Even Start and the Twin Buttes School where she would retire after 24 years of devoted employment and many years of performing a job she truly loved. She moved to Bismarck in 2015 to be near her children and grandchildren who she loved dearly.

Her retirement allowed her to do the things she enjoyed most. She spent a lot of her time with family, traveling, gardening, and working out. She gained many friends in Bismarck through regularly attending church and “silver sneakers” classes at the YMCA. Judy was a devout Catholic, who believed in the power of prayer. She attended annual Kateri Tekakwitha conferences and even made a trip to Rome to see the holy city. Whenever she couldn’t find something, she would pray to St. Anthony, and moments later, the lost item was found. Her strong faith translated to her family in this way.

She had a lifelong love of country and gospel music. She loved to shake a leg on any dance floor and was proud to teach her children and grandchildren how to dance. She also loved to read, and was famous for having a book by her bedside that she would read nightly. She loved taking long walks which often included laps around shopping centers (if you know, you know). Many of her children and grandchildren competed in rodeos. Judy was always in the crowd to show her support and she developed a love for the sport this way. She was a member of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame and enjoyed attending and supporting their events. Most of all, she loved cooking and baking. If you were ever lucky enough to have the food she had prepared, you know this was one of her greatest skills. She never allowed company to leave her house on an empty stomach.

Judy is survived by her children Gerald White Bear, Les White Bear, Gary Fredericks, Kathy Johnson (Rick), Fred Fredericks (Kimm), her grandchildren Ty White Bear, Kayla Rhone (Zach), Thomas Fredericks, Justice Johnson, and Ashley Fredericks and great-grandchildren Rayden Fredericks, Rakye Fredericks and Ridge Rhone, her brother Paul White Bear (Johanna) and many nieces and nephews.

Judy is preceded in death by her husband John (Buzz) Fredericks; parents Matthew White Bear Sr. and Alice (Eagle) White Bear; sisters Izetta White Bear, Meredith White Bear, and Baby Girl White Bear; brothers Matthew (Jiggs) White Bear Jr. (Opal), Martin White Bear, Gerald White Bear, Myron White Bear Sr., Dorvan White Bear Sr., Merville White Bear, Edmund White Bear Sr. (Nora) and Terry White Bear.

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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