Tracy Wounded Face

Tracy Wounded Face, 59, Mandaree, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at a Bismarck hospital.
Family and Friends Gathering: Tuesday, November 26, 2024, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Langhans Funeral Home, Parshall
(due to sunset times, the procession to Mandaree will leave at 3:30)
Wake: Tuesday, November 26, 2024, beginning at 5 p.m. at Water Chief Hall, Mandaree
Funeral: Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Water Chief Hall, Mandaree
Burial: Wounded Face Family Cemetery, rural Mandaree
Senior Pallbearer: Rodney Dale Charging
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Tracy J Wounded Face Sr. was born on June 3, 1965, in Watford City, ND, to Joe Wounded Face Sr and Lillie Mae Smith. Tracy was a child of the Me cirooga-Flint Knife Clan and a member of the Ciicga-Prairie Chicken Clan. His late grandmother, Julia Hunts Along, gave him his traditional name of Awaxaawí Maceéihci, meaning Mountain Chief.
As a child, Tracy grew up near Chaulk Butte, south of Mandaree. He loved to ride horses all day long, climb trees, and run the hilltops back then. He had no care in the world but to play with his siblings and other sisters and brothers who came to visit.; there was something to do every day while living out in the country. In 1979, for a short time, Tracy lived with his sister Kaye in Tempe, Arizona. While there, he taught his nephew, who was about four years old, how to swim while they were both in the swimming pool. He returned home to Mandaree, where he attended school. After sixth grade, he transferred to Marty Indian School in Marty, South Dakota, where he participated in basketball, track, and football and played guitar in the school band. He graduated from Marty in 1985 and continued his education at Fort Berthold Community College to pursue a liberal arts degree.
Tracy enlisted in the United States Army and began his service in December of 1987. He was stationed at Fort Devons in Massachusetts before his honorable discharge in November 1989. Tracy always worked hard to provide for his family. Some of his jobs included working at Four Bears Casino & Lodge in the Players Club, driving heavy equipment and redoing government missile base sites, and subbing in the Mandaree School Kitchen. He also worked on oil rigs and did roustabout work for Dan McCauley Construction of Watford City and Kehoe Construction. Tracy also worked for the TAT Buffalo Project, building Buffalo fence lines. Later in life, he enjoyed doing ranch work around his home until he was diagnosed with cancer.
Tracy loved his family. He married his high school sweetheart Collette Sitting Bear on April 27, 1987, and to this union, four children were born: Dustin, John, and twins Lacey and Tracy Jr. The couple divorced in 1994. His children, Steven and Sabrina, were born through his marriage to Jolene Swift Eagle. They later divorced, and Tracy married Eloise Drapeau; sadly, this marriage ended in divorce. Tracy was blessed with his daughter, Ruby Ann, from his relationship with Winona Morsette. Ruby Ann was his baby girl; they were always together and hardly seen apart. Ruby Ann gave Tracy a reason to fight against his cancer because he didn't want to leave his baby girl. Tracy also cherished his six grandchildren. He loved all his grandbabies and would do anything for them.
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, with his family members beside him, Tracy Jay Wounded Face Sr. passed away at the age of 59. He will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him. Tracy was the last little brother in our family. We will miss you always. Tracy was welcomed on the other side by his parents, Joe Wounded Face Sr. and Lillie Mae Smith; paternal grandparents, William Wounded Face and Julia Hunts Along; maternal grandparents, John Smith and Nellie White Hawk; brothers, Joe Wounded Face Jr., Joebill Wounded Face, Kenneth Wounded Face, Terrence Claymore Jr., and Tex Wounded Face; sister, Roxanne K. Claymore-Williams; and nephew, Mackenzie R. Wounded Face.
Tracy is survived by his sons, Dustin (Kim) of Mandaree, John (Sunny) of White Shield, Steven of Jamestown, and Tracy Jr. of Mandaree; daughters, Lacey of Parmelee, SD, Sabrina, of New Town, and Ruby Ann of Mandaree; grandchildren, Geneva, Dayton, Baby J, John, Crimson, and one grandbaby on the way; sisters, Joleen Fox of Mandaree, Evelyn (John) Wounded Face of New Town, Terrie (Gordon) Blake and Gwendolyn Claymore both of Billings, MT, Billie Joe of New Town, Muriel Kaye Jackson of Maricopa, AZ, and Wanda Smith of Poplar, MT; aunt, Joanne Smith of Minot, ND; special sister, Madonna White Man of Bismarck; and many extended relatives.