Clairene was born in Rosebud, South Dakota to Jennie Nelson Cloud and Oliver White Hat on September 11, 1932. She grew up in Rosebud and Lakeview, South Dakota. Her mother Jenny worked at the Rosebud hospital and when she stayed with her, Clairene and her cousin, Noah “Punk” Pretty Bird would ride their horses all day throughout the canyons around Rosebud. They grew up together like brother and sister. They also stayed most of the time in Lakeview with their Grandma and Grandpa Bill and Agnes Yellow Robe. Their Grandparents built a livery on their allotment and ran a half-way house in Lakeview, which served as a stopover for the Rosebud Agency supply shipments coming from Fort Niobrara Nebraska. Agnes would cook and bake for the men and Bill would feed and provide water for the horses. Clairene had a wonderful childhood and loved to share her stories about growing up with Grandma and Grandpa Yellow Robe.
Clairene married Phillip Eugene Graeff. This marriage produced a son, Noah Richard “Sandy” Graeff. Phillip was killed in a car accident leaving Clairene a widow in her early twenties. Afterward, Clairene lived in Rapid City, and met Glenn Dale Tucker, recently discharged from the Navy. Glenn said he was looking for the prettiest girl in Rapid to marry. He found her when he met Clairene. They married and moved to Valentine, Nebraska to make their home. They had two more children, Linda Susan Tucker and Mark Dale Tucker.
Clairene spent most of her life on the Rosebud Reservation except for a brief time in Rapid City and Brookings, South Dakota.
Clairene was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Glenn Dale Tucker, and Son, Mark Dale Tucker (Rhonda), Grandson Phillip Dale Tucker, mother Jennie Cloud, Father Oliver White Hat, her sisters, Roselyn White Quills, Betty Blindman and brothers Norman Red Bird, and Sylvan and Ambrose White Hat.
Clairene leaves behind her son, Noah “Sandy” Tucker (Nancy) and daughter, Linda Tucker Szabo (Paul).
Clairene is also survived by her brother Conrad White Hat; Grandchildren: Matthew Tucker (Tara), Jesse Tucker (Amy), Bill Tucker (Georgia), Mark Tucker (Autumn), Jeannie Tucker, Sandee Rae Tucker, Jenny Tucker Hovelsen (Arik), Heather Tucker Lurz (Casey), Brian Szabo (Angie), Paul Szabo Jr. (Kristy), Jennifer, Stormy and Amanda Jackson; and 36 Great Grandchildren: Jonah and Jade Chasing Hawk, (Jeannie), Ramsey, Rhea and Rezelle Tucker (Matthew), Haven Tucker (Jesse), Philicia (Phillip), Dawson Emmett (Sandee), Gavin and Gage Tucker (Mark Jr.), Connor, Sadie, and Carter Lurz (Heather), Jaydn Wilcox, Kamryn, Makynna, Keaton, and Savanna Tucker (Bill), Delanie, Gracie, Everleigh, Berkeley, Max and Arica (Jenny), Michael and Kristen Waln & Myles, Riley and Braden Szabo (Glenn) Ben, Eli and Grae Szabo (Brian) Madison, Kiley, Haley, Daniel, Oakley, Osias, and Alena Jackson.