The passing of the last surviving allottee from the enrollment of 1906 marked the end of an era in the history of the Osage Nation.

Helen Rogers “Dee” Smith died at her home in Virginia Beach, VA, on February 24, 2009 after a long illness. Mrs. Smith was the last surviving allottee from the Osage enrollment of 1906. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Admiral Harold Page Smith, former Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

Nieces, nephews, and friends survive Mrs. Smith. She was past president of the Virginia Beach Garden Club, a member of the Presbyterian Church and other civic and military organizations. Private graveside services were held.

Mrs. Smith was one of the 2,228 Osages and 1 non-Osage who were enrolled by the Federal Government for the allotment of the Osage Reservation in 1906 and for the distribution of mineral related income.

Until 2004, the Federal Government recognized the allottees of 1906 as the only “official” members of the Osage Tribe, and reaffirmed the inherent right of the Osage people to determine the standards for its citizenship through the enactment of Public Law 108-431 in December, 2004. The Act paved the way to extend citizenship to all descendants of the Osage Allottees of 1906 and to reform the government of the Osage Nation.