Helen Constans Cole, 91

On Oct. 22, 2005, Helen Cole, 91, died peacefully at Colonial Manor in Whitefish. She was buried beside her husband at Glacier Memorial Cemetery on Oct. 28, 2005.

Helen Constans Cole was born in Lewistown on Sept. 15, 1914, to Henrietta and Charles Little. She was of French, German, and English descent with a little bit of Irish. Helen was the fourth child after three brothers and the oldest of four girls. Now, of the seven, two sisters remain, Lois Taylor of Helena, and Bernice Steiner of Sacramento, Calif.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald K. Cole, in 2003.

She is survived by her children, Barbara Ann and Dr. Amos L. Herget of Sandy, Ore.; Kathryn and Edward Marquardt of Kalispell; and Jim and Brenda Cole of Macon, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, plus two great-grandsons on the way.

She spent many years in the Eagles Auxiliary and Beta Sigma Phi. When Helen was six months pregnant with her first child, she marched in the summer heat with the Eagles Drill Team for the state competition in Miles City. She was proud of her many years as a credit manager for Montgomery Ward, Kalispell Mercantile, and Adkins Lakewood Center. She also worked as a bookkeeper for ONeil Lumber, Council on Aging and Nutrition, and at the Flathead County Treasurers Office.

Helen loved bowling, reading and crossword puzzles, and she crocheted many afghans for family and friends. She was very talented at writing poetry and prose. As the wife of an avid hunter-fisherman for more than 66 years, she maintained a sense of humor and quick wit that remained to her last day.