Buddine Fredericks

Rodeo Pre-1970s

Inducted 2026

Wilhelmina Mary “Buddine” Fredericks was born and raised on her family’s ranch on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. She attended the Elbowoods Agency Indian School, where she excelled academically and in extracurricular activities, graduating from Elbowoods High School in 1946 at just 16 years old. She went on to attend Dickinson State Teachers College and earned her teaching certificate at age 17. Buddine began her career teaching in rural North Dakota schools before later entering ranching alongside Oakley H. Dayton, majority owner of the Greenor and Dayton Rodeo Company. Together, they ranched in the Mandaree area and purchased horses for the rodeo company. Following Oakley’s death, Buddine returned to teaching.

Buddine’s lifelong career in education spanned public education, Indian education, and guidance and counseling at both the high school and college levels in North Dakota, South Dakota, and California. Her expertise led to her recruitment by the Indian Higher Education Consortium, where she served as Director of Curriculum Development. In this role, she played a key part in helping newly established Indian colleges on reservations across the country meet the standards and objectives required for accreditation, contributing significantly to the growth of higher education opportunities for Native students.

A deep love for children defined both her professional and personal life. Buddine coached girls’ basketball at Rubidoux High School in California and managed the school’s girls’ athletic department. Her affection extended to her family, particularly her nieces and nephews. Each year she returned to Fort Berthold bearing gifts for them, and she was always present for family and friends during times of need. Her compassion and devotion made her especially cherished among her siblings.

In addition to her education career, Buddine was an accomplished horsewoman and competitive rodeo athlete. She and her brothers, John and Pete, attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where they excelled in collegiate rodeo and won multiple championships. Buddine was crowned Rodeo Queen at New Mexico State University and later became the North Dakota Rodeo Association Champion Barrel Racer in the late 1950s. She also competed in saddle bronc riding at local rodeos, including the Killdeer Mountain Round-Up, and supported many local cowboys and cowgirls in their rodeo careers. Through rodeo, she formed lasting friendships with world champions such as Casey Tibbs, Marty Woods, Winston Bruce, and Sammy Thurman.

Buddine shared a special bond with horses, particularly her champion horse Cricket and the last horse she trained, Missy Jo. She participated in wild horse roundups throughout the Mandaree and Twin Buttes areas and served as round-up boss in 1960 on her brother Buzz’s ranch.

Later in life, Buddine returned to Fort Berthold, serving as Executive Director of the Fort Berthold Housing Authority and later as manager of the Four Bears Hotel and Resort.

After retiring, she traveled with her mother, Catherine, to powwows, selling Indian jewelry and enjoying friendships made along the way.