Being Helen's big sister I have 80 wonderful years of memories. One is playing school, I was very hard on her (I was the teacher), so needless to say she was the Honorrole student-not me. On our thursday evening phone calls we enjoyed laughing about the past. She has been & always will be a special part of my life. So happy to know she is with her loved ones which have already passed on. I will miss her & always love her. With loving thoughts & memories-- Fern
I am so glad that Aunt Helen was on earth with us. She was a happy spirt who had a gentle sense of humor. I always enjoyed seeing her and Uncle Gordon when they came into town. I enjoyed hearing her tell me about about her childhood and little details about Mufour and Grandma and Grandpa Gus. She took up the daunting task of updating our geneology which I appreciated. She also wrote up and emailed around some stories about Grandma and Grandpa Gus, which where hilarious and enlightening.
I remember being at the SandPiper restaurant with my Dad and his siblings for breakfast.
The laughter and storytelling was so funny and vibrant that I felt like the whole restaurant was listening in. I sat next to her and watched as she quipped and teased and generally made the conversation lighthearted and buoyant.
She will be missed but her homecoming in heaven I'm sure is a great celebration.
LisaJo and family
I have wonderful memories of Aunt Helen. As a child I remember it was a special occasion to have Aunt Helen come to Illinois for a visit from the West. She was a lot of fun and always took time to talk to each of us and always made us feel special.
I was very glad as an adult that I was able to visit her and Uncle Gordon a few times- once was in the late 80s in Utah when they diligently met the 3 am (late as usual!) Amtrak train and took me touring around the area for a few days with lots of laughs and good food. In 2001 I was out in LA for work and stopped by to visit and again had a great time. That time we went to a winery in Santa Barbara for a wine tasting and sat in the sun, drank wine and talked. A couple weeks after I had returned home a box arrived from Aunt Helen and Uncle Gordon with a set of wine glasses from that winery. I will always cherish those glasses and the memories. We will miss you Aunt Helen, Love, Judy
Helen has been a presence and spark in our lives for more than 65 years. She made a point to know us all, nephews, nieces and even our kids. Helen was a great joy to my Dad (her brother Belton) in the last years of his life. He looked forward to Helen’s weekly calls to check in on him all the way to the end.
Her quick wit and fun filled periodic phone calls always left us smiling and laughing at the end. Helen took special interest in my son Jake and his Army Service. I believe Helen was known as one of the great cookie suppliers for the 101st Airborne in Tikrit, Iraq. There was no end to her support for all of us and we shall cherish the memories Helen provided.
We know that Helen is in a special place and looking down on all of us. We will miss Helen.
Bob & Cindy Gustafson along with Nate, Andi, Janna, Dan, and Jake
I was fortunate to have Helen in my life through my brother Guy marrying her lovely daughter Barbara. We spent many special occasions together over the years and I loved to sit and talk with her. She had the love and understanding one thinks a mother should have, filled with her sassy wit, zest for life and love of her family. I am so glad we had those times together and will miss her too. She is smiling down on us from heaven now. Rest in peace mother Helen.
XOXO Stephani Spagnoli
