Helen Louise (Stores) Harmon, 69

Helen Louise (Stores) Harmon, 69, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on May 26, 2012.

Helen was born in Havre on June 3, 1942, to Donald and Dorothy Stores. She was raised at Tiber Dam near Chester, where her father was superintendent of the dam. In her youth, she overcame the hearing and vision impairments left by childhood illness to become an enthusiastic pianist and a proofreader for the Liberty County Times.

  Helen graduated as Class Salutatorian from Chester High School in 1960 and married her high school sweetheart, Daniel Harmon, on Jan. 21, 1961. In 1966, not long after Helen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the young family moved to Kalispell and built their home in Evergreen.

She was a devoted mother who raised her five children with home-made cooking, hand-sewn Christmas gifts, and home-grown preserves. She served as Cub Scout leader for her sons' troop. She loved to square dance and garden, until MS made those pursuits too difficult. She undauntingly planned and carried out adventures with her family, including camping near Dan's summer bridge construction jobs in Glacier Park and beyond, and driving to Arizona and Mexico over Christmas break.

After her children were grown and MS had stolen much of her independence and ended her marriage, Helen's motto was “Better to laugh than cry!” She continued to amaze her children and grandchildren with her cheerful courage. We know Mom would want us to honor her memory with more laughter than tears.  

She is survived by her children, Danny (Danette) Harmon, of Post Falls, Idaho; Mike and Sandy Harmon, and Chuck and Darla Harmon, all of Kalispell; Vonda and Rod Garcia, of Whitefish; Matt and Pam Harmon, of Post Falls; grandchildren Zane (and Kate) Kimes of Phoenix, Miranda (and Larry) Lee, Hunter and Hali Harmon, all of Post Falls, Cody and Tessa Harmon, Logan and Lauren Harmon, all of Kalispell, and Sydney and Barrett Garcia, of Whitefish; great-grandson Xander Lee of Post Falls; siblings Robert Stores and Pat Stores, of Eugene, Ore., Donna McCaleb, of Camano Island, Wash., Margie Holmes, of Chester, and Sharon Stores, of Belle Fourche, S.D., as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, and one great-grandson.

A memorial service is being planned for the end of June in Chester at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Montana MS Society or Immanuel Lutheran Home.