Helbent Leonard Frazier

Helbent Leonard Frazier passed away in the early morning of August 4, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. Helbent was born on April 3, 1937, at Old Cheyenne Agency, South Dakota, to Mazie Alvina Fast Horse Thompson and William Cross Frazier. He grew up in White Horse, South Dakota. He attended St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota, and in 1955, he completed high school and graduated from Cheyenne River Agency Boarding School. Helbent joined the US Army and served from 1955 to 1958. He attended basic training in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and trained as a welder and armorer at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in Korea with the United States Army, 38th Ordinance Company, and upon returning home, he was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After Helbent's honorable discharge, he planned to attend New Mexico State University, but a train stop in Phoenix changed his fate. He visited the Arizona State University (ASU) campus and changed his choice to ASU. He attended ASU for several years, majoring in political science. In 1961, Helbent met Sarah Rudocker, a nursing student at Phoenix’s St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing, and after a six-week courtship, they married in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Helbent was well known for his strong work ethic. He served as a police officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, eventually becoming a criminal investigator, among several tribal communities, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Makah Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He ultimately left law enforcement and decided to pursue a career in healthcare administration. He was a Hospital Administrator, Service Unit Director, and Contract Health Specialist for the Indian Health Service (IHS). In IHS, he worked in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Whiteriver, Arizona; Sells, Arizona; Lame Deer, Montana; and Billings, Montana. His career then returned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where his work assignments included Bethel, Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska; Winnebago, Nebraska; and Washington, D.C. He retired from federal service but returned to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), pursuing his post-retirement career as a Tribal Liaison with FEMA. Helbent truly loved this work, assisting tribal and other communities impacted by natural disasters understand and pursue FEMA support. In this capacity, he trained and mentored numerous FEMA personnel with limited experience working with tribal communities. At the same time, he mastered braiding and founded his company, Lakota Braiding, specializing in bull ropes and his highly prized braided keychains.

Helbent cherished his wife of nearly 64 years. They traveled, camped, fished, hunted, and enjoyed various adventures throughout Alaska and the western United States. He hit the spouse jackpot in marrying Sarah, who followed him from place to place throughout their marriage and who was his biggest supporter, providing extraordinary nursing care after a stroke in 2008, which left him disabled. Even a stroke could not hold him back. Helbent stayed active and well-informed through various activities, including reading news, playing games, visiting the casino, attending bull riding and hockey events, and dining at his favorite restaurants with Sarah and his family. He loved his kids and grandkids, numerous pets, and his horses, most notably "Pepper". He was immensely proud of his grandchildren, taking pride in watching them grow into capable young people. He always kept up to date on their myriad accomplishments.

Helbent is survived by his beloved wife, Sarah; children Julie, Cathie, Luke (Tiffany) and Isaac Frazier of Tucson, Arizona; son Francis (Pavla) Frazier of Rockville, Maryland; daughter-in-law Melanie Frazier of Sacramento, California; one brother, Emmett (Jody) Thompson of Eagle Butte, South Dakota; three sisters, Verlyn Fast Horse of Pierre, South Dakota, Bernadette (Terry)

Halfred of Eagle Butte, and Ivajean Carter of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Naomi (Mike) Huguet, Sarah (Taylor Caekaert) Yarlott, Anastasia Frazier, Natasha Frazier, Tatiana Frazier, Christine Frazier, Mary Frazier, Mohamed Alhag, Elijah Frazier; great grandsons, Cody Castillo and Pasqal Huguet; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews too many to name. Helbent is preceded in death by his parents, William Frazier and Mazie Thompson; son Paul Frazier; siblings Ernestine Frank, Arlene Thompson, Eldred (Audgie) Fast Horse, Mary Morgan, William (Willie) Frazier, and Judy Four Bear.

Honorary Pallbearers are Emmett Thompson, Jamie Olson, Kirk Fast Horse, Delbert Gene Lamb, Audgie Fast Horse, Willie Frazier, Godfrey Padayao, and Wilford Bowker.

A special thank you to all his wonderful caregivers throughout the years, and the excellent care provided by the Tucson VA Medical Center, including their home-based primary care program.

Burial services will be held in Tucson, Arizona, at East Lawn Palms Cemetery on Monday, August 11, at 11 am. All expressions of sympathy, including flowers, honorary donations to a favorite charity, and cards, are welcome. Flowers can be coordinated through Casa Adobes Flowers in Tucson, Arizona. The family requests these organizations be considered for possible donations: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Youth Project; St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota; Pancreatic Cancer Network; UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Shriners Hospitals for Children; and St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Montana.

To View Helbent's Memorial Video Please click the link below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYW2Vfr1xZE