March 19, 1958 – March 26, 2025
Ron His Horse is Thunder, 67, passed away on March 26, 2025 on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana.
Ron was born on March 19, 1958, to Ina Brown McNeil, a member of the Hunkpapa-Lakota Oyate. His Lakota name was Tasunka Wakiya (His Horse is Thunder).
Ron was raised in Little Eagle and lived in Rapid City and Long Island, NY before moving home to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation as an adult.
He attended Standing Rock Community College (now Sitting Bull College) and then transferred to Black Hills State College to complete a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Afterwards, Ron earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Dakota.
In 1994, he served Sitting Bull College as the Title III Project Director and then became president of the college in 1996. Ron was proud of his role in working with the college board to develop plans for a new college facility, with two of the classroom buildings in place when he left this position.
In October of 2005, Ron resigned as college president when he was elected chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He served in this capacity for four years and maintained a strong national presence for his Tribe.
Leaving politics, Ron established a cattle ranch and became a rancher. He also joined his wife, Deborah, in her work doing educational consulting, primarily with tribal colleges and universities nationwide.
Ron had four biological children: Josi Halfred-Mendoza, Ron (aka Little Ron) His Horse is Thunder, Wiyaka Wastewin His Horse is Thunder, and Akitcita Cistila His Horse is Thunder; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He married Deborah Wetsit in 2003, which brought him additional family with sons Rick Desjarlais and Koshon LaCounte (Nikki); daughters Cher Old Elk (Leon) and Michelle Desjarlais; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Ron was one of the original Big Foot Memorial Riders and made the 300-mile December horseback ride for many years as a rider, then as a supporter of those who rode.
Ron is preceded in death by his daughter, Josephine.
He is survived by his wife Deborah; mother Ina McNeil; father Joseph McNeil, Sr.; siblings Alan McNeil (Shirley), Jacqueline Jackson (Robert), Joseph McNeil Jr. (Sheridan), and Frank McNeil (Dawn); and children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren.
Ron will lie in state on Friday, April 4 at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Headquarters in Ft. Yates. Evening wake services will be held at the AJ Agard Community Building in Ft. Yates. Burial services will be Saturday, April 5 at the AJ Agard Building. Burial will be at Messiah Church gravesite at Little Eagle.
Donations to Sitting Bull College in Ron’s memory would be a meaningful way to honor him.