LeClair, Sr., William "Willie"

My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family and those he made an impact on, like me. He will be miss. Thank you to his wife and family for sharing Grandpa Willie with us. I pray for journey home and comfort for those left here. Hohou Nebsiiiwoo Willie

Very sorry to hear he has passed away. He was a great guy!

Condolences to the family and friends. 

Our sincere condolences to the family. Willie was a good friend and we will miss him. He always greeted us with a smile and loved his humor. ❤️

Thank you for everything you did and will continue to do as a mighty ancestor.  Thank you so much Beautiful Connie for sharing Willie with us all , The Steele family wishes you all respectful condolences 🙏🏽

Grandpa Willie was a blessing for me the years we spent joking and always bringing me joy in my darkest days I'm great full to have known him Thanks to the family for sharing him never met the rest of you but he sure loved and bragged about his beautiful family my condolences on your loss 

One of the greatest thrills of my life was singing The Lord's Prayer while Willie signed it at many of the One Shot Antelope Hunt Banquets. Wonderful man, he will be missed! Thanks Connie, for being a great partner to him.

May he rest in peace, and still continue his sweats in the Great Grounds Beyonds. He will be missed.

With heartfelt sympathy, prayers and condolences  too cousin Connie and family and friends of my cousin Willi.  One of the last great cowboy I will always remember his humor and compassion.   May you see uncle Bud and Aunt Esther and you uncle Charles my father and hug them for me.  Love you all. Cousin Charlene.

To Granpa Willie's Family

I am very sorry for your loss.  There is nothing I can say that will ease the pain of the passing of this great man. 

I have know him for over twenty years since I came to work that the Prison.  He taught me more than just about native customs, he taught me how to deal with the many different cultures that I would be dealing with for the next 20 years.  I can not thank him enough for his wisdom and guidence.  

I didn't get the chance to tell him that I based a charachater in a novel I wrote on him.  I hope that he would approve. 

Again sorry for your loss. 

Jim

May his memory be eternal!

Words barely express the deep sadness we feel at your passing.  You filled countless hearts with hope and peace in the many years you served as Religious Coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Corrections.  Your shining example of service for mankind is a source of inspiration and awe.  May you rest in peace and the Creator grant peace to your loved ones and all those who grieve your passing.  Our deepest sympathies and condolences to the LeClair family.

Our deepest sympathy to Connie and all!!! What a great and kind man - he will greatly be missed!

Our love and prayers to you all!

So sorry for your loss  Derk and christy Iverson

Connie, So sorry to hear of Willie's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  

Were very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with your entire family. He will be missed by so many. 

OH Grandpa Willie, you will be missed very much! Your light and positive attitude was so infectious. Your spirit will stay with us and may you rest in peace.

Connie, thinking of you and your family. I will miss joking around with Willie. You are in my prayers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Nelda Harper                  

My condolences go to the LeClair family.  Mr. Willie was a kind man who was always smiling and friendly.  He was one of the first people that I met when I started working at WSP.  May you rest in peace.

RIP, Willie. Thank you for sharing your life with those of us you helped recover. You taught me how to love life and to love myself when I couldn't and for that I am forever grateful. 

I send my condolences to Connie and family.

Willie will be missed. 

I first met Grandpa Willie in 2019 when I was attending WDOC Academy in Rawlins Wyoming.  He was there to train new staff about Indian ways and what they were alloowed to have for 'religious purposes'.  He was kind, and direct and I was so impressed that such a man would be so committed to fostering cultural understanding.  

As I went on in my work at the Wyoming Womens Center, I got to know Mr Leclair better when he would come to WWC to facilitate sweat lodge and meetings with the inmates.  His witty sense of humor made me laugh every time I saw him.

As my career progressed, I began my work with Gateway as an addiction counselor.  I continued to enjoy my visits with Grandpa Willie when he would come to the facility.  As I was in my graduate studies for my Masters Degree in Counseling, Grandpa Willie graciously accepted my request to help me with an immersion project that was a requirement for my multicultural counseling class.  He allowed me to participate in a Prayer Circle and he accepted my invitation to come to my home for lunch with my husband and I, where I did his  interview.  I could write so much about this experience, all I can say here is that I will never be the same.   

The first thing that came to my mind when I heard the news of Grandpa Willies passing was that he died empty.  He used every bit of everything Creator blessed him with to bless others and promote understanding.  It is an honor to have called him my friend.  There will never be another man who could walk in the shoes of Grandpa Willy LeClaire.  

Emmalee Shoup

Hau kola mitawa!  Doksa ake waunkte!  I've had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. LeClair on several occassions in the chowhall.  I will miss our chats however brief some may have been.

Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and all who knew this wonderful man.  He showed me how to hear the silence; how find my faith.  I will miss him every day.

Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and all who knew this wonderful man.  He showed me how to hear the silence; how find my faith.  I will miss him every day.

Grandpa Willie,

You made a true diffrence in peoples lives everyday and I know you will be deeply missed by so many.  Wyoming has lost one of its greatest son's! I was honored to work with you at WDOC and am truly sadened that we will not see each other again for a long time.  I will pray for you, your family and wish them only peace in the coming weeks.  

God speed my friend, C.J. 

So sorry to hear about Willie. He was a special cousin and will always be remembered. RIP 

So sorry to hear about Willie. He was a special cousin and will always be remembered. RIP 

My condolences to Willie's family on their loss. I had the good fortune to meet Willie last year at the One Shot Antelope Hunt and I was inspired by his love of the hunt, his wisdom, and his charm. I was honored to meet him and appreciated his blessings and the kind welcome we received from the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. He even inspired my 5th grade daughter here in California to do her school project this year on the history of the Shoshone people and the Wind River Reservation. His presence will be sorely missed by all his fellow Past Shooters at the One Shot this September in Lander. 

We are sorry for your loss. He will be missed by many organizations and for is service in the Navy.  He is with the Lord and is with other membbers of his family. May He Rest In Peace

My prayers for Willie. He wasindeed a soritual leader both for his people and others.We spent many joyful hours together. I, as others, will miss both his joy and wisdom. I look to see him again on the otherside of camp.

Rest in Peace.

Warren

My condolences to Connie and her family and to William's sons, Sonny and Marty... Your Husband and Father will be greatly missed.  May the Holy Spirit give you all comfort during this time of grieving... 

Nephew Frank and Cousin - Frank & Sandy Boyd

The Wyoming Department of Corrections has lost a TREMENDOUS Asset!!  Mr. LeClair contributed SO MUCH to our department, the inmates and the staff!!  He also made a TREMENDOUS impact on my life, as he helped me through a really rough patch in my life and carries a HUGE piece of my heart.  Although, I am heartbroken, I know his spirit lives on!  My thoughts and Prayers are especially with Connie , who probably has no idea the impact they've both had on me and my family!!  Thoughts and Prayers are with his family, friends and everyone who knew this GREAT MAN.  May the Creator, wrap his arms around you and you feel his loving presence, may He comfort you and give you strength.  Blessings.  AMEN!  

Our sincere condolences.  We will always have good memories of Willie.  He was truly one of a kind.

Duncan and Kayleene LeClair

Peace be to you Willie. 

When we first opened our doors to the public in 2002 at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center we looked for someone to close the circle here, and Willie appeared, and blessed this building for all who have visited since.  More than 600,000 people from around the world now have come in our doors, the doors of understanding that Willie opened for the Eastern Shoshone people. 

A Vice President, Senators and Congressional Representatives, and Wyoming Governors have all come to this gathering place along with countless others, less famous but just as important - all human beings, as Willie reminded us.  Willie was on our schedule of presenters twice this summer and now we are lost with his passing.  Connie we are thinking of you and Willie in our hearts in this moment and always.  

Dear Connie and Family, It ws such a shock to learn of Willie's passing. He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed.

To the family of Willie...

I didnt REALLY know him. However, every time and place we saw each other he always had an infectious smile, a good word and I always felt he was my friend. We me in 1994 at the One Shot. He was "one of the good ones" and I wish his entire family peace in his passing. and one day we may all see him again. I will sit near the campfire and listen to his stories once more. I am a better person for knowing him.

To the family of Willie...

I didnt REALLY know him. However, every time and place we saw each other he always had an infectious smile, a good word and I always felt he was my friend. We me in 1994 at the One Shot. He was "one of the good ones" and I wish his entire family peace in his passing. and one day we may all see him again. I will sit near the campfire and listen to his stories once more. I am a better person for knowing him.

May he rest in peace. May the creator bless his family at the time of there need n always. May the creator watch over his family n all those who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Grandpa Willie,

 Where do I even begin. The first time I met you was in 2002 at WWC. You have taught me so much throughout the years I've been both incarcerated and on the streets. You never judged me when I would end up coming back to WWC. You and Grandma Connie helped so many people. I wouldn't be who I am today without the both of you. My heart, prayers n loves are with Grandma Connie. Thank you for everything. You are now with the creator and flying high. 

You were a great friend to the One Shot and a great warrior. Blessings to your Family!

God Bless You All!

Bryon

R I P Grandpa Willie, You will always be remembered and greatly missed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Connie and the LeClair family.  Willie's great smile and sense of humor will be missed.   Rest well our old friend. 

He is on his own journey now god bless 🙏 

He is on his own journey now god bless 🙏 

William and the LaClair family is in my thoughts and prayers. 

Our good times with Willie will always be treasured. Sincere condolences to Connie and family🙏🏽

 Thank you for all your friendship over the years. You made my family and me so welcom when I came to riverton as the rodeo coach at cwc. You rest in piece and I know you and your work will live on. 

My mother, Alice Florom, was the Pentecostal Pastor in Riverton when Reverend Burris was there.  My half-sister Shirley married Marty, which connected us as a family in marriage.  However, growing up in Riverton and being part of the Shoshone tribe indirectly, Willie played an instrumental role in my life as a young child, a teen, and a young woman.  Life happens.  Family divorces happen.  Life goes on.  Yet, how Willie believed in me at the most crucial times in my life means more than anyone will ever know.  I am grateful to have known Willie and so very sad at the same time.  I learned on the journey to Riverton to the funeral that the Medicine Walk begins at the time of knowingness.  I learned and witnessed that death does two things to families; it either brings them together or tears them apart.  Willie loved.  He was kind, compassionate, empathic, and cared about humans.  He touched everyone's life that attended his funeral and more.  Bearing witness to this event was amazing.  My prayers go out to Connie and all of the family - granddaughters that were present, adopted daughters, sons, and biological children.  You made me realize that we are all family and will continue to be moving forward because that's how it works when unconditional love is present, and there is no doubt in my mind about that.  Thank you for embracing me with love at a time when it was needed.  Thank you for allowing me to give love back to you as well.  My medicine walk in this life will go on much deeper than ever before because of it.

Blessings and Peace.

Jinean Florom

I cannot explain what an influence Willie was in my spiritual life. His kindness, his understanding of life, his outlook on life and his sweat lodge ceremonies. Thank you Janice for introducing me to Willie and Connie. I shall see you on the Red Road, Willie.  Aho.