Funeral services for Bill Helper, age 75, of McLaughlin will be Monday, March 25, 2013 11AM CST at the McLaughlin Blue Gym. Burial will be at the Good Shepherd Cemetery of Little Eagle under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Sunday, March 24, 2013 from 6PM to 10 PM at the Blue Gym. Bill passed away Thursday, March 14, 2013 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

William was born July 14, 1937 to Wallace and Julia (Dog Eagle) Helper. He attended Little Eagle Day school and attended McLaughlin High School where he played basketball for the Midgets and the traveling team called "All American Indians" which traveled all over the West Coast. Bill set a record in track with the McLaughlin High School. He loved all sports, and pitched baseball at an early age and pitched softball until he was 60 years old. He played in the 1994 World Finals Softball Team at Steamboat Springs, CO. Bill enjoyed playing softball with his son, nephews and grandsons. Bill also took part in rodeo's as a team roper, horse racing and other events.

He married Mary Ann Chasing Hawk on July 17, 1964 in Pierre, SD. He raised many of his grandchildren, especially Seth, Lacey, Tyler Helper, Michelle and Lacey Helper, other grandchildren Chelsea, Cassie and Corey Yellow Earrings. He was very proud of his grandson Corey Yellow Earrings who won the State Track Meet and named them the Iron 6.

Family who were blessed to share his life; wife Mary Ann Helper, 3 daughters, Billie Jo (Leo) Helper, Willow (Brian) Helper, Wilma (Jose) Helper, son William "Kaptain" Jr., grandchildren, Michelle, Lacey, Corey, Alexandrea, LaRee, Seth, Chelsea, Lindsey, Cassie, Tyler, and Tylee, great-grandchildren Hailee, Gaven, Charlize, Keagon, Damian, Andriel, Kingston, Alexavia, Wallace, his dog Demon whom was at his side every day and two beloved sisters, Imogene Taken Alive and Delores Taken Alive.

Honorary Bearers
Trail City Blazers, All American Indian Basketball traveling team, Dr. Josh Henderson, Nursing Staff at Mobridge Regional Hospital, Fern Has Horns & family, Toni Eagleman, Willard Malebear & family, Steve Hall, Ken Hall, Tex Hall, Jay Claymore, Scott Laundreaux, Louie Lends His Horse, Rosalyn Sandland & family, Kristen Bringe, Jerry & Mary Peterson, Monty & Delores Hauck, JC Crawford, Mary Jane Tiokisin & family, Phillip Bird Horse, Cleopatra & family, Everett Chasing Hawk, Sadie Eagle, Mazie Shelton, Doug Wilkinson & family, Isaac Dog Eagle & family, Debbie, Lois, Rosalyn Tree Top & family, Charles & Reva Gates & family, Food Distribution Staff, Edith Long Feather & family, Trevian Hairy Chin & family, Evelyn Uses Arrow, Errol Crow Ghost Sr. & family, Bruce Brown Wolf, Maggie Long Feather & family, Ted Knife & family, Late LaVerna Long & family, Peggy Knife, Wendall & Randall Knife, Lyle & Sophie Iron Horn & family, Delbert & Darlene Chasing Hawk & family, Kathy Kuzior, Brady Claymore, Casey Miller, Standing Crow family, JoAnn, Elizabeth, Junita, June, Judy Leo, Ilene Rosenberger, Vernon & Theo Iron Cloud, Marcella Cutt, Judy & Cordell Yellow Fat, all softball, basketball, track, horseshoe players & rodeo, Howard Eagleman, 1994 World's Finals Softball Team, Iron 6, Brian Taken Alive, Ian Wiest, Corey Yellow Earrings, Sam Iron thunder, Anthony Iron Thunder, late Gerald Running Hawk III, Austin Sitting Dog, Oscar & Lori Billings

Casket Bearers
Gaven Little Eagle, Keagan Brownotter, Corey Yellow Earrings, Matthew Agard, Seth Helper, Hank Taken Alive, Tyler Helper, Amos Talks, Chance Harrison, Randy Brave Bull, Jr.

Music Lloyd Thompson, American Horse Family