Cecilia Ruth Runnels (Biggoose)

On the afternoon of August 18, 2025, Cecilia “Luta Wi” Ruth Runnels (Biggoose), 69, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Ascension St. John, Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville, OK.

Cece was born on December 16, 1955, to Jack Ray Runnels and Jeanette Marie (Carson) Mitchell in Pawnee, OK. She spent the early years of her childhood in Lawrence, KS. As a high school student she attended Chilocco Indian School graduating in 1974. She went on to attend college at Haskell Indian Jr. College in Lawrence, KS and Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD. She graduated in 1994 with an Associates degree in Counseling and Social Work, Business Administration, General Studies, and Native American Studies.

Cece was an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, also descended from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the San Poil of The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. In her free time, she traveled all along the powwow highway attending pow wows, stomp dances, and 49s. She was a passionate activist and her journey even took her up to Standing Rock. She even made it to the big screen appearing in the movie Killers Of The Flower Moon. She enjoyed her life and lived it to the fullest.

She worked for Oklahoma State University School of Osteopathic Medicine as a Bursar and the Oglala Lakota College of Nursing as an administrator. She later retired from the Delaware Tribe of Indians as a long time employee, more recently she took on part time hours working as a sales associate for Teton Trade Cloth by Lenape, a job she loved very much.

Those left to cherish the memory of Cece include her children: Luana M. Strike-Axe Murphy and husband Jason, Vincent S. Biggoose, Jamie L. Martinez, and Dario Martinez; her grandchildren: Tiana, Choske’, Tehi, Roscoe, Avery, Jeanetta, Jayla, Naataani, Shuday, Kimimela, and Lily; her great-granddaughter: Prairie; her siblings: Jack Runnels, Reyna Runnels, and Lavon Deloris Runnels, along with many nieces, nephews, adopted Indian way children, family members and friends.

Cece’s love, laughter, and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A wake for Cece will be held at the Delaware Tribe of Indians Complex in the Family and Children Services Building beginning on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM and the wake will end at the time of the funeral service. Funeral services for Cece will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 9:00 AM at the same venue as the wake with Bruce Martin and Walter Dye officiating. The Delaware Tribe of Indians Complex, Family and Children Services Center is located at 5110 Tuxedo Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Arrangements are under the direction of Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home of Bartlesville. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesbartlesville.com.