Helen Genevieve Pole

Helen Genevieve Pole left us on the evening of April 30, 2021 after losing a brief battle with a naturally occurring illness that proved impossible to over come.

Born at the Hoopa Valley Hospital on 12/1/1939 at 4:45pm to Sherman Wilbur and Mary Marie Roberts of Weitchpec, Ca.

A studious student through out she would be the high school prom queen and later attended Heald Business College in Sacramento California.

Helen at all of 5 foot tall would return to Hoopa working at Humboldt Fir and Masonite on the green chain before transitioning to a career position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a job that in time would lead her to Redding, Ca then Sacramento, Ca where she would retire.

In the late 1960's and 1970's she could be seen running around the valley in her red 1968 Shelby GT500KR. Some would wonder with her height, or lack of, how well she could see over the dash of her hotrod.

Always one for fashion, Helen had a sense of style, love of sparkle and a definite love for the red white and blue. She did have rather unique way of blending traditional Native culture with fashionable dress while adding a touch of patriotism when in the mood which was often. 

Helen was very proud of the fact that she was a breast cancer survivor which was not her cause of death.

She, along with husband Clifford would raise 2 sons Carlton who currently resides in Yerrington, Nv with wife Chris. Her youngest son Jeffrey resides in Hoopa.

Helen was very proud of her Native heritage. She maintained a respectable basket collection and owned much jewelry collected from all tribes across the west. 

She enjoyed world travel and the experiences of other cultures as evidenced by the many times that she traveled overseas. At one point she sailed the Panama Canal on a cruise ship unaccompanied. A gutsy endeavor for sure that would intimidate many.

Helen was preceded in death by her brothers Kenneth and Wesley. She leaves her brother Glen along with wife Bonnie of Hoopa, Sister Wilma of Hoopa and her two sons Carlton his wife Chris, and Jeffrey. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and her group of very devoted friends

There will be a public visitation at Paul's Chapel 1070 H St., Arcata, Ca Friday May 14 from 5pm - 7pm.

Burial services will be Saturday May 15 at the family cemetery at Martins Ferry, Ca at 12 noon. Following will be a luncheon at the Yurok Tribal Facility. Food will be provided. Please bring your stories!

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