Josephine Alvena Oldman

It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Alvena J. Oldman, Hono’Niibei (Sky Singer) on January 23, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family. Alvena was born on January 7, 1939, to the late Elk & Josephine (Underwood) Redman.

She attended Mill Creek School, St. Stephen's boarding schools, and Fremont Vocational High School in Lander Wy. She also attended Central Wyoming College and Arapaho Tribal College, where she earned her Associate's degree.

In her younger years, she enjoyed riding horses, beading, baking, picking chokecherries, playing basketball with her brothers, and playing basketball with her team ‘Long Jeans’. Alvena started her career life at the age of 18, working at Bishop Randell Hospital, then American Laundry and Daytel Enterprises. Later on, she worked for family services in Lander for 15 years. What she enjoyed most in her career life was becoming a fluent Arapaho language teacher. She worked for Wyoming Indian Schools for 15 years, teaching the language, then became a program director for Ethete Immersion pre-school, where she taught the Arapaho language fluently to children for 26 years. She always enjoyed teaching the Arapaho language and being around children. After working 26 years for the tribe, she retired in May of 2024. Alvena was taught the language by her mom and dad growing up.

Alvena also enjoyed traveling. During the time she taught for the immersion, she would travel to Colorado for language conferences. She also traveled to different places like New York, California, and Hawaii. She always had stories to tell about her traveling days; the trips she would always talk about were taking a train to New York and flying over the ocean to Hawaii.

She enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos play and the L.A. Lakers, watching her grandkids play in sports, and going out to eat at the Oxbow restaurant. Her favorite NFL player was Tom Brady; her favorite NBA player was Kobe Bryant. She also had favorite artists Elvis Presley and George Strait. She would like to watch The Waltons, Little House on the prairie and Pioneer Woman cooking shows.

Alvena is survived by her children: Patricia Oldman-Trosper (Milton), Donita Standing Elk, Janie Brown(Jim), Chico Hermanyhorses(Julie), Cleve Hermanyhorses, Ryan Gambler(Marilyn) and Ann Shakespeare(Delmont) Adopted daughter Heather Lucas, God Daughter Francene Shakespeare,Polly CBearing and Barbra Alden; God son: Leland Hill Jr. Sisters: Geogeann Takeshorse-Badbear,Anita Hungry, Jodi Jorgenson, Gerry, Kay, Patricia, Karen, Alicia Underwood: Brothers: Marty(Aldene) and Jerome Underwood; Nieces: Josie and Tessa Redman,Sandra Cbearing, Lisa Redman, Christine, Margie, Linda, Joan Willow, Veronica Addison,Elizabeth Shakespeare-Antone,Veronica Miller, Nicole Brown, Lavonne Rodriguez, Holly Underwood; Nephews: Jerry, Mike and George Redman, John Earl Willow, Jimmy Shakespeare,Carlton,Tony, Russell Underwood; Grandchildren: Patrick Atencio, Samantha Brown(Ambrose), Joshua Oldman, Melanie Crazythunder, Stacie Oldman, Alexandria Winn, Jimmy and Constance Standing Elk, Larae, Danielle, Leroy Brown and Dallas Wallowing Bull, Todd Brown, Mary Nancy Brown, Chunkay, Dawson, Taylor, Sam, Caleb,Keegan Hermanyhorses; Great-Grandchildren: LaDainian, Titus, Mervin and Skylaynaray Brown, Kir’a Wallowing Bull, Kaylynn and Anthony Yellowplume, Kalieia Oldman, Skuya MedicineHorse, Easton Hill, Layla and Mara Atencio, Rossie Hill, Tristan, Sam Jr, Elsie, Jocelia and Amaya Hermanyhorses; also numerous other family members Redman, Oldman, Underwood, Shakespeare, HeCrow, Brings Him Back, Takes Horse families. Please accept our apology if we forgot anyone. She has a big family

Alvena was preceded in death by her mother and father, Elk and Josephine Redman; Husband Jimmy Oldman; Children: James and Billy Oldman; Aunts: Mary Hungry and Elizabeth Shakespeare; Nephews: Pat Redman, John Redman Sr, Oscar Redman, Patrick and John Underwood, Norman and Kenneth Willow Sr; Sisters: Lucy Willow, Francis Redman, Audrey Underwood, Matilda Bushyhead, Lydia Friday, Mary Christine Shakespeare, Maria Martinez, Marie Gambler; Brothers: Benny Sunrhodes, Sherman, Vincent, Alfred, Hubert, Anthony and Delbert Redman, Vincent, Edward, Raymond Underwood, Bobby, George Wes, John and Big Rock, Nickerson John, Cedric, Medford Shakespeare; Grandchildren: Tianna Redman, Michael Standing Elk, Nick Brown.

A visitation will be held at the Blue Sky Hall (490 Ethete Rd., Ethete, WY 825250) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with an all-night wake immediately following at the family home (4 Thunder Lane, Ethete, WY 82520).

The funeral service will be held at the Alfred P. Redman Sr. Gymnasium, located inside Wyoming Indian High School (636 Blue Sky Hwy, Ethete, WY 82520), on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow at the Sage-Redman Cemetery in Ethete.

Please sign the online guestbook at: hudsonsfh.com