January 4, 1969 – January 16, 2024
Robert Kennedy “Robby” Bill was born in Pendleton, Oregon on January 4, 1969 and passed away peacefully in his wife’s arms at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton on January 16, 2024.
He was born to Raphael Sebastian Bill and Sheila Elaine Pond and was the second to the youngest of four sons. He was an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and was raised here for most his life with the exception of a few years that the family lived in Portland when the boys were young. He played many sports growing up, including little league and Babe Ruth baseball, football and wrestling in Jr High and at PHS. He attended Lents Elementary in Portland, Sherwood and McKay schools in Pendleton, John Murray, Helen McCune and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1987. After high school he wrestled for Clackamas Community College for a time then moved back to Pendleton to be closer to family.
In 1990 while visiting his best friend who was going to college in Portland, he met the love of his life, Wendy Woods. They discovered they had lived in the same neighborhood in SE Portland when they were growing up but had not met until adulthood. They quickly became inseparable and married at the Mission Longhouse by Father Mike Fitzpatrick on May 18, 1991. He moved to Portland and worked for the City of Gresham while studying and wrestling at Portland State University. In 1995 Wendy gave birth to their son, Weyekin Ilp-Ilp Kennedy Bill and the following year they decided to move to Robby’s home on the reservation. Robby commuted to PSU during that time and obtained his B.A. in History in June of 1997.
Upon returning home, his first job was at URHA as Drug Elimination Program Manager, working with the late Art McConville. This is where his love for working with youth took off. In 1998 and 1999, he and Wendy had two daughters, Keannah Louise Bill and Skylar Elaine Bill. It was during the time Skylar was born in 1999 that they also gained another daughter Ariane Danee’ Wildbill (11 years old), due to the passing of his mother.
He spent several years working for the CTUIR Education Department as an Indian Ed Coordinator and then as Assistant Director alongside Lloyd Commander. He then decided a career change was needed so he worked as a Transporter for Yellowhawk. This was fulfilling at the time but his leaders thought his talent of working with youth not being utilized so he was asked to run an after-school wellness program for Yellowhawk youth clients. With the support of Dolores Jimerson and Lindsey Watchman, he brought the Iroquois game of Lacrosse to the youth of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He continued to work for Yellowhawk for many years as a Peer Mentor and taught NCS students a Health Class called Native STAND.
In 2019 he began his role as Behavior Support Specialist at Nixyaawii Community School while continuing to assist Yellowhawk staff with teaching the class. He considered every single student he worked with one of “his kids”; helping them navigate life was truly his greatest accomplishment, aside from being the best father to Ariane, Weyekin, Keannah and Skylar, “Bampa” to his grandson Caden Robert Stewart and husband to Wendy.
Robby was preceded in death by his parents, younger brother Phillip Bill, grandparents Phillip and Eliza Bill and Walter and Inez Pond.
He is survived by his wife, children, grandson, brothers Cedric Wildbill and Emile Bill, best friend Gene Shippentower, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and of course his NCS students.
A dressing/viewing service was held at the Mission Longhouse on January 19th, followed by evening Washat service. Final seven songs were sung on the morning of January 20th followed by burial service at Agency Cemetery.
January 4, 1969 – January 16, 2024
