Beverly White Bear

Beverly Jean White Bear, stiWAharit – Plum Woman, age 85, of White Shield, ND, passed away peacefully at her home on September 20, 2025, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren and great grandchild.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Ralph Wells Jr. Community Center in White Shield, ND. Burial will follow at Nishu Cemetery, rural White Shield. Wake Services will begin at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Beverly's home.

Beverly was born on September 28, 1939, in Elbowoods, ND, to Phillip Ross Sr. and Martina (Eagle) Ross. She grew up surrounded by family and community, attending Nishu Day School, Sunnyside in Minot, White Shield, Elbowoods, and eventually graduating from Flandreau Indian School in 1959.

After high school, Beverly moved to Los Angeles, CA, to attend cosmetology school. Over the years, she worked many jobs, including at Sylvan Lake, SD during her school years, the Campbell Soup Company in Worthington, MN, Garrison Hospital, and as a cook at the Senior Citizens Center in White Shield, ND. She also served as a teacher and Health Coordinator for Head Start, where she dedicated 22 years of her life until her retirement in 2007. She later worked at the White Shield School through Experience Works until 2011.

Beverly's work with children was one of her greatest pleasures. She was admired for her patience, wisdom, and nurturing spirit, and many of her Head Start students lovingly called her "Grandma." She went above and beyond for the children in her care and was often the one colleagues turned to for guidance when challenges arose.

In 1963, Beverly met Mike McKinney Sr., and together they made their home in Montgomery, AL. They had four children: Martina, Margaret, Ava, and Mike Jr. After Mike Sr.'s passing in 1971, Beverly and her children lived for a time in Alabama and later in Fort Worth, TX.

In 1977, Beverly and her children moved to White Shield, ND, where she met and married Tex White Bear. Together they had two children, Timothy and Caroline. Although divorced later in life, Beverly and Tex always came together for holidays, birthdays, and family celebrations.

Caring for her family was Beverly's greatest joy. She loved cooking for birthdays and holidays, enjoyed bingo, traveling to casinos, and even tried crafting in her retirement years. In recent years, she especially enjoyed attending senior day at the casino with her daughter Lynn and Saturday steak nights. Beverly enjoyed watching her little programs, the weather channel, news, cooking shows, hoarders, antique roadshows, storage wars. She liked watching the cooking shows to get new recipes to try. She loved her action movies. She was deeply close with her brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren, cherishing every moment with them. She was also devoted to her dogs, Two Socks and Penny, who were her companions, protectors, and babies.

In June 2025, Beverly's daughter Ava and granddaughter Megan were able to fulfill her last wish by traveling to Worthington, MN, and visiting Flandreau Indian School, where she had graduated high school.

Beverly will be remembered as a strong, hardworking woman whose kindness, calm presence, and wisdom touched countless lives. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, extended family, and the many children she guided through her years of dedication to Head Start.

She is survived by:
Her children, Martina Turner, Margaret McKinney, Ava McKinney, Michael McKinney (Alice 'Sis'), Timothy White Bear, and Caroline White Bear; grandchildren, Pamula Esquibel, Samantha Meyers, Melinda Meyers, Jeremy Meyers, Madison McKinney, Markie McKinney, Presley McKinney, Jacob White Bear, Jayden White Bear, Megan White Bear, and Delmer White Bear, Frankie and Ryder Johnson; great-grandchildren, Keenen, Kennedy, Kanyon, Image, Rhieannen, Neo, Cagney, Leroy, Daxton, Francisco, Nathaniel, Gabriel, Uriahja, Anayia Lynn, Alayna, and Kenai Rushard; great-great-grandchild, Kaleb, Chevelle; sisters, Joanne M., Pearl R., Helena M., and Leeda M.; brother, Phillip Ross Jr.; and her two beloved dogs, Penny and Two Socks.

She is preceded in death by:
Her parents, Phillip and Martina Ross; husband, Michael McKinney Sr.; daughter, Malinda McKinney; grandchildren, Stevie Krueger and Jason Meyers; great-great-grandchild, Christopher Everett; and siblings, Richard Ross, Charles James Ross, Mary Alice Ross (Wells), Frances Ann, Barbara Ann, Linda Mae, Loretta Eagle, Phyllis Kylo.

"Today I had everything-my mom, my dad, my children, my sisters, brothers, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. But I won't have tomorrow with you.
Mom -

I will see you all one day. Just know I loved all of you. Please be good to one another. I love you all so much."