Lucille Frenier

Lucille Frenier, 101, of LaPlant, passed away, Thursday, March 15, 2012 at her home.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., MDT, Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at the HVJ Lakota Cultural Center, Eagle Butte with Rev. Norman Blue Coat officiating. Burial will follow in the UCC Cemetery, LaPlant. An all night wake began at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the cultural center. A procession took place at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at the 4-mile junction East of Eagle Butte.
 

Lucille Bertha (Ziegler) Frenier was born to Mollie Lear and Elmer Ziegler in a tent along the river July 21, 1910 on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.  She was raised on the prairie by Virgin Creek, LaPlant SD by her Mother Mollie (Lear) Lee and her step-father Henry Lee.  Her siblings were Violet, Deloria, David, Francis and Eva Pearl Lee.  Lucille also had a sister named Josephine Ziegler born to Susie Lear (Mollie’s sister) and Elmer Ziegler and a brother named Alfred Ziegler who lives at Lower Brule, a renowned artist/sculptor.

Lucille’s grandmother was Hu’ Pu’ To’ Win (Blue Wing Woman).  She was given the name Margaret Lear when she married Peter Lear, he called her Maggie.  She was a tall woman while Pete Lear was a short small man in stature.  Her grandpa Pete came up the Missouri River on a boat with a man called Doc Palmer.  Lucille hated winter because she said when she was young she would have to go out on horseback in the bitter winter snow and bring the milk cows and horses in.  She rode lots of horses while she was young and claimed to ride bronc’s right along with her Lee brothers.  She also chopped wood and led team and wagon to haul water for her folks. She rolled and smoked cigarettes called Bull Durham. Back then there were no fences and she would ride the prairies and hills of LaPlant.  She also drove the folks in Model T and Model A cars.  She and Grandpa Pete would catch the train in LaPlant to the Agency by the Missouri River, then catch the ferry boat down the Missouri River all the way down to St. Louis where they would get supplies.

Around 1913, they had a big feast where she was given her Indian names.  She said Indians came from all over and brought lots of gifts and food.  Her Indian names are Blotan Hunka Win (Scout Woman) and Nica Ole Win (Looking for her woman).  She attended school in LaPlant and Pierre Indian School.  She was a singer and musician and played the harmonica, mandolin, banjo, and guitar and known for her beautiful singing voice.  She was called on to sing at various events. She once sang on stage with her best friend Carrie Bridwell Fisherman whom they called each other “Muske”.  She was also the first Indian to sing on the radio.

She recalls seeing very old chiefs who came to visit Henry and Mollie Lee at LaPlant.  While Lucille was Christianized Congregational and lived and loved both cultures of worship; she still maintained her Lakota roots and believed in the canunpa.  She knew her Lakota language and customs and also knew her congregational hymns fluently. In the 1970’s she went on the Longest Walk from Alcatraz Island to Washington D.C. and became well respected for her support in Indian issues across Indian country.  Her greatest loves was her family, extended family, her children, grandchildren, her songs, the prairie, the church and her Lakota way of life.

She married Simon Frazier, son of Rebecca Mazakute and Lot Frazier who was a Congregational Indian Minister at the LaPlant Virgin Creek Church. And together they had four sons:  Kermit, Gilbert, Harlen Dean, and Curtis Frazier.  From her marriage to Philip LeBeau they had three daughters:  Lavera LeBeau LeVell; Francine LeBeau Iron Wing; and Colette LeBeau Iron Hawk.  She also loved and raised her step daughter, Lillian LeBeau Chase. She then married a WWII Veteran named William Johnny Frenier and lived happily with him until his death in 1973, they had one son, Laurent Jon “Beanie” Frenier.

She is survived by her brother, Alfred Ziegler of Lower Brule; daughters: LaVera LeVell of Carter Lake, Iowa, Francine (Robert) Iron Wing of Laplant, SD, and Colette (Seborn) Iron Hawk of LaPlant, SD; and many nieces and nephews, and more than a hundred grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Lucille is preceded in death by her Grandpa Pete Lear and Grandmother Hu Pu To Win; her mother and step father Mollie and Henry Lee; her father Elmer Ziegler; her husband William; her sons: Kermit, Gilbert, Harlen Dean, and Curtis Frazier, and Laurent Frenier. 

She will be remembered for her singing, her gentle and kind nature, strong mindedness, courage, endurance, high spirit, her teachings to her children and grandchildren, and for her love of her Tribe and Lakota culture.  She dearly loved her Momma and called out to her toward the end and wanted to go home.  She will be missed by all who loved her yet is now happy with her Momma.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Lucille’s arrangements.