Dalee Krystal (Snow) Helgeson

Nookohaaa3aa – Carry Water Woman, Dalee Krystal (Snow) Helgeson, Went to the Big Sands on March 29th, 2022. She came to this earth on August 8th, 1982. Her loving mother Cindy Carrywater and father Shawn Snow. She is an Upper Quarter Clan member (ibin itiyooo’) and a proud Aaniiih I3aa/ Nakoda Wiya. Her other fathers include Tom Licht, George HorseCapture Jr., Dale Snow. Her other mother Theresa HorseCapture. She was educated at St. Paul’s mission and graduated Valedictorian of her class in 2000 from Hays LodgePole High School. From there she attended college for a brief time at Northern. A brief stay in Chandler AZ caused her to work at McDonald’s to earn enough money for her and her little sister Val’s bus fare to come home. She also worked a time at Ft. Belknap Housing Authority. In 2002 she came to LodgePole, and her life’s work began. She began to create a world of wonder.  She and her family began to build a better place. She was the go-to organizer for all of the Pow-Wows, Round Dances, Owl Dances, Rodeos and all effort to raise money for the community events in Lodgepole. It was never a work of money but a belief to reinstate good in the world. She would never ask the tribe for anything.

In her home she raised close to some 40 kids and started on grandchildren. She was a gift to so many people. In 2005 her beautiful Aunt Judy gifted her a kidney, in the few years to follow her sister Savana gifted us the Greatest Gift of ALL, a son – Tadaya Onoah, to which Dalee nurtured and loved with her everything. Dalee attended head start with Tadaya each day and volunteered as a parent involvement coordinator. She took the money at the concession stand at the Rodeo or the Powwow. With her impeccable savvy of money & budgeting, she quickly became the accountant and secretary for the family ranch, she learned to tabulate as a powwow secretary and a rodeo secretary. She enjoyed people being happy. She enjoyed feeding her many relatives. One of her personable attributes was the ability to feel and know the spirit of another.  If she didn’t like you, that was it – you knew it right from the start and she wasn’t mean about it – just honest. The heart of a servant, she was the greatest fundraiser; from the penny drives to the Lotto ticket wreaths to bake and food sales, to name a few. She loved to travel and enjoyed being with friends and family going to many destinations throughout the country.  Her ultimate passion was eating cuisines at many different travel destinations.  She did her research before she went anywhere and always checked the reviews on the different establishments she was going to.  When her family would travel, she would always have recommendations of where they should eat and to try this or that, and to make sure to send her “food-pics”. She loved ndn music, listening to her spouse, brothers and children sing. She attended many celebrations throughout the country and also made the trip across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands to Pow-Wow. Her want for the betterment of her community, she made sure she had a hand in the creation of the store & pantry in Lodge Pole. All these things she never asked for credit. Her beauty was unflawed, never wore makeup and was an ndn at the core. Her great and humble movements impacted everyone who knew her. She was proud to be the child of great Aaniiih and Nakoda people. She was very proud of her grandfathers “Snow Man” and “Toady”, her grandmothers Rita and Valmarie, and all of her people. She was a staunch believer in our ndn way of life. She was blessed to be a child of the Flat pipe, and a neighbor to the Feathered pipe. A believer in the Medicine Lodge, and all of our ceremonies. She was impeccable with her words, never being mean but always truth in the kindest way. She’d give you the honest truth whether you asked for it or not. Listening to the Kusi’s and Neewah’s who she grew to love over her life she took those teachings and lessons into being a mother. Her son, Tadaya, is her legacy, is her pride and joy. There will never be another “Boss”. We shall miss her but for certain she is getting things squared away in the next camp.

She was the best of us all. She made us try our best. If we left anyone out it was not intentional. Thank You All!

Preceded by Paternal Grandparents - James “Snowman” Snow, and Rita Bradley, Maternal grandfather Ben “Toady” Carrywater, Father Shawn Snow. Maternal grandparents Leon and Mary Kezar, Special Aunt that favored her - Winona Snow Gives. Uncles Benjamin, Stacey, Daley Carrywater, Gerald LittleOwl. Grandparents: Ozzy, Eleanor, Kermit Snow, Herbie, Nifty, Willy, Gilbert, Joanne Bradley, Myrna Spotted Bear, Judy Gray. Cousins: Christmas Snow, Swede Boushie, Brother-in-law RT Speak Thunder. In-Laws Dora, Gene, Nancy Helgeson, Joe Bigknife, Bob Fourstar. Relatives Leta, Marvin, Dale, Leon, Gordon Lodge, Annabelle Thomas, Birdie Mae Shortman, Lilly Lodge, Sons: Cyrus Cole, Bruce Denny, Marty Lonebear, Thane Helgeson, and LoyGene Molina.

People who shared life ways with her, Catherine and Bill Halver, Bertha Snow, Selena & Art Ditmar, Harris Rock, Freda O’watch, Teeners Tucker.

Survived by Parents: Tom & Cindy Carrywater-Licht, Jr. And Theresa Horsecapture. Barbra and Lynn Cliff, Hannah and Yogi Wing, John and Diane Allen, Gus and Florence Helgeson, Mary Messerly, Chick & Rita Helgeson, Roberta BigKnife. Grandparents: Valarie Carrywater, Melvina “Tiny Girl” Snow, Minerva Allen, Geri Rutherford. Aunts: Judy Carrywater, Patti Carrywater, Ivy, Amy, Joey Snow, Kristina Bay, Patty Gray, Gloria LittleOwl, Gloria Fox, Melanie Vigil, Ilene & Renita LongKnife, Pearl Grayboy, Nona LongKnife. Uncles: Scott, Curt, Lyle, Dewey, Spooky Snow, Gary Fox. In-Laws: Scott & Martha Warren, Lucy & Tom Fairbanks.  Sisters: Beth Lenore, Satin Denny, Josie & Vic Cliff, Savana Doney, Val Werk, Elizabeth Azure, RayLynn LaMere, RayEve Shambo, Colleen Fox, Denise Doney, Clintanna Colliflower, Starlyn Fisher, Sarah Hawley, Vina LittleOwl, Nona Main, Fallon Mount, JimmyDee Snow, Ione Snell, Tawnya Brockie, Nancy Stiffarm, Joshlyn Morgan, Darla Snell-Werk, DawnRose Racine, Alicia Werk, Shelly Main, Miranda Obey, Gina Helgeson, Kimberly Brockie, Courtney Bell, Kathleen Adams, Rain Turcotte, Carole “Doll”.  Brothers: Scott Zander, Ummy Brisbo, Slick Snow, Ben Carrywater, Don Racine, Josh Werk, Cory Morgan, Terry Brockie, John Stiffarm, Alphonse Obey, Randall Werk, Mike Turcotte, RayPaul Helgeson, John Chopwood, Bill Bell, John Filesteel. HLP Class of 2000: Ervin Doney, Tim Werk, Casey Martin, Eddy Werk, Shelley Racine, DaniRae Werk, Curry Small, Leann FirstSmoke. Sons: Tadaya Onoah, Julian Ferguson, Delane LaMere, Duane Bradley, Cameron Werk, Cody Kuhnhenn, Lex Helgeson, Thomas Molina, Ba’anoouh Werk, Dutch Helgeson, Dax Wing, Kadin Racine, Darrin LongFox, Joesiah LongFox, Truth Brockie, Titan Brockie, Walt BadRoad, Randy Buckles, TJ Allen, Lane Allen, Irvin BigKnife, Byron Werk, Brad Cichosz, Josh Horn Jr, Gibby Werk, Randall Werk, Hootie Werk, Pete Gopher III, Colby ThreeCalf, Tylon Mount, Lance Morgan, Baby Corey Morgan, Trent Main, KennyGus Helgeson, Kobe King, Andrew Cole, Brandon Belgarde, Jeremey Wing Jr, Jacob Doney, Wapiskih Piyisew, Brandon LongFox.  Daughters: Thae Rae Main, Miquela Perez, Tahtiana Morgan, Kyla Racine, LaNika Flying, Alyssa Flying, Mikaeya RunsAbove, Kateri Molina, Justice Werk, Riley Werk, Renae Werk, Micha, Marayla, Amani, Tasiya LaMere, Amara SpeakThunder, Sophia SpeakThunder, J’lynn Morgan, Jaylynn Allen-Roberts,  Ihte Stiffarm, Kehtsin Stiffarm, Nihani Stiffarm, Neeyahe Obey, Otana Obey, CeCe Helgeson, Jordan Jones, Laila Jackson, Sarah Werk, Alexandria Werk, Zoey Walking Eagle, Kylyn Werk, Kristie RunsAbove.  Niisaahoh/Tagozabi: Grayson Helgeson, MazWanapi Molina, Kyler BigKnife, Kiecyn Gray, Niibyaa Main, Oou’wutanii RunsAbove, Ohaziya Onowa, Tahniya Mahbiya, Ian Healy, Mikale Messerly, Delane LaMere, Zayla LaMere, Ryden & Roxi Kuhnhenn, Ryder & Rayla Helgeson, Braxton Helgeson, Isaiah Fox, Taya & Traycen & Tyus LongFox, Tanden & Breslyn Allen, Ximena Buckles, Whisper & Ryan & Amy BigKnife, Valentine Cichosz, Trayson Belgarde, Andrew & Cylie Cole, Mhkai RunsAbove-Bull In Sight, Jaycee Morgan, Eden Snow, Kaiona & Elias & Praline Jones, Peyton, Brayleigh, Elizabeth, Adrianna Werk.

Many relatives: CarryWaters, Lodges, Favels, SleepingBears,  Bradleys, Manns, Snows, Horns, TallYouth, StandingBear, Helgesons, Werks, LongKnifes, Racines, Brockies, Mains, Morgans, Stiffarms, Obeys, Doneys, Allens, HasEagle, Wings, Flyings, BigKnifes, LittleOwls, Shortmans, Healys, Kid Curry & Sonnyman Flying them outlaws

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