SHADE, Veronica “Ronni”

Veronica “Ronni” Shade “Tootai’pistsaakii” May 30, 1951 – May 20, 2024 Ronni Shade, 10 days shy of her 73rd birthday, passed away at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital on May 20, 2024. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 53 years, Barry Shade, and her sons, Shawn (Elizabeth), Todd, JJ (Susan), Willie (Jasmine), & Kevin. Adopted sons Winston Bruised Head (Lavina), Kordic & Angelo. Also, by her brother Doug Singer (Christie) & sister/friend Deanna Shade. Ronni was predeceased by her son, Tyson, daughter/ granddaughter Chelsie, parents, Walter and Mary Singer, brother Harley, and grandchildren, Darby, Dustin, and Makai.
Ronni grew up on a cattle ranch in the Bull Horn area. As a young girl, she would help Lawrence Plain drive their cattle to the rodeos where the Shade’s were supplying the bucking horses..
Ronni started her education journey at the St Mary’s residential school, then went to live with her aunt Dorothy so she could attend school in Fort Macleod. She completed her secondary education in Edmonton where she received her High School Diploma in December 1969. After graduating from high school, she worked in Calgary for a year then moved back home where she met her husband, Barry. They got married on January 30, 1971.
Having 6 boys, she was a hockey mom during the winter & a rodeo mom during the summer. Starting with the May long weekend till the end of August, every weekend she would pack up the camper after work on Friday and follow Barry with her boys to wherever the Shade Rodeo Company was supplying bucking stock for a rodeo. All her summer weekends were spent at rodeo grounds in various towns or communities from Bow Island to Cranbrook, BC and north to Hobbema. Her best rodeo camping trip was at the Calgary Stampede on two occasions. Her fun relaxing rodeo trips were to Albuquerque, NM & Las Vegas. Ronni had some horses that she brought with her when she married into the rodeo family. She was very proud of her world-famous bucking horse, #54 Bobby Blue. Bobby Blue went to all the major rodeos in the States with the Harry Vold Rodeo Company, he made it to the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in 1983. Only the top 100 horses in North America are selected to go to the National Finals Rodeo.
Ronni worked very hard all summer, after her 8 hours at the office, she came home to tend to her flower garden and several pots of cherry tomatoes. She always had tons of laundry to get done for the next weekend’s rodeo excursion. Not having a daughter, she often complained that she had no help with her chores while Barry had all the help he needed with his chores.
Ronni started working for the Blood Tribe Administration in 1972 in various departments. She became a permanent employee for the Blood Tribe as an accounts clerk in 1982. She was the public works accountant from 1983 to 1999. In 1999 she became the Finance Accountant then went on educational leave. Ronni enrolled at the University of Lethbridge in May 2000, in April 2004 she graduated with Distinction with a Bachelor of Management Degree, her major was Accounting. In December 2004 she received her AFOA Financial Manager Certificate. In 2008 she became the Senior Finance Officer for the Blood Tribe.
Wherever she entered a room, she was heard by her boisterous laughter before she was seen. It didn’t take long for everyone to know that she was in the building.
Other survivors are her 22 grandchildren & 8 great-great grandchildren. Brothers-in-law, Don (Marie) Shade & Hank Shade. Sisters-in-law, Harriet (Leroy) Heavy Runner, Colleen Crow Child, & Patty Shade (Evans). Her daughters-in-law Melody Little Bear & Jennifer Scout who she remained very close to. Her close friends Rosie Many Grey Horses & Phylis Eagle Bear, close cousin Roberta (Bobbi) Wolfe, her Grey Eagle buddy Regina Crow Child, and all her Finance Department staff. Also, by her very special close friend, Dr. Brenda Gallie, world famous doctor in the treatment of childhood eye cancer, from the SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Ronni was also predeceased by her biological father, Bruce Red Crow, father & mother-in-law, Harry & Agnes Shade, brother-in-law, Ervin Shade, sister-in-law, Alvine Beebe, nieces, Marilyn Shade, & Wayna Beebe, nephews, Steven Heavy Runner & Austin Shade.
A family service will be held at the Legacy Funeral home at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 29th followed by a wake service at the Senator Gladstone Hall from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at the St Mary’s Catholic Church at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 30th. She will be laid to rest at the Shade Family Plot. The family would like to have everyone to attend the feast after the funeral service at the Cardston Stake Centre, east hill in Cardston.
To send a condolence please visit www.legacyfuneralhome.ca.