Barbara Ironroad

Barbara “Barb” Jean Ironroad, Unpan Pejuta Win (Medicine Elk Woman), made her journey to the spirit world on June 22, 2024, at the age of 76, at her home. 

A prayer service will be held at 10 AM on Monday, July 1, 2024, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home in Mandan, with light refreshments. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at 12 noon. The family invites you to join them for food and fellowship at Sertoma Park, Shelter 4 in Bismarck. 

Barbara was born November 11, 1947, in Pine Ridge, SD, to William “Bill” and Lucille (Red Willow) Wilcox. She attended grade school in Kadoka, SD and 9th-10th grade at Holy Rosary Mission-Red Cloud School. At age 14, Barb went to work as a waitress at a diner in Kadoka, SD to help to take care of her siblings. She attended high school in Florida through the relocation program, graduating in 1964, and went on to attend college in San Francisco at Heald Business College. After relocating San Francisco, she met the love of her life, Joseph Louis Ironroad, while she attended classes and worked. On June 8, 1974, they were married in Reno, Nevada and they had two handsome sons, John and Steven Ironroad.

In 1974, the family moved to Rapid City, SD while her husband worked at a gasification plant until the plant closed. They then moved to Bismarck, ND where she began working at the BIA, starting as a realty specialist, then she became a Realty Officer until her retirement in 2012, from the Fort Yates BIA. She began working again in 2016, for 4 months until her official retirement.

Barb loved and cared so much for her family. She helped and mentored anyone who needed her help. Barb had many friends and family that she cherished spending time with. Most of all, her granddaughters, Madison and Alleigh, whom she lovingly called “her girls”.

Barb had many interests including sewing star quilts, reading magazines and Danielle Steel novels, listening to old country music, and watching crime shows. She also loved attending cookouts and Pow Wow's.

She is survived by her sisters, Theresa Wilcox of Rapid City, SD, Caroline (Jed) Bettelyoun of Wambli, SD, and Darlene Wilcox of Rapid City, SD; brothers, Wayne (Patty) Wilcox, Byron (Alice) Wilcox of Fort Yates, and Boyd and Kevin Richards of Rapid City, SD; adopted sister, Sharon (Albert) Two Bears of Cannonball; her two sons, John (Nadine) Ironroad and Steven (Jennifer) Ironroad; granddaughters, Madison Julia-Rose and Alleigh Elizabeth Ironroad; grand puppy, Teddy of Fort Yates, ND; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Fred and Anna (Quiver) Wilcox; maternal grandparents, Peter and Martha (White Eyes) Red Willow; parents, William and Lucille Wilcox; stepmother, Laura Wilcox; sister, Anita Faye Wilcox; husband, Joseph Louis Ironroad; and one niece, Lucille Wilcox.