Helen Marshall, 98

I would like to tell you a little bit about our mom Helen Marshall. She was born Dec. 24, 1916, in the small Kansas town of Paola to James and Mamie (Morris) Abney.

She and her parents and her little sister Marian soon moved to a farm outside of Olathe, Kansas, where she grew up without electricity or running water, but there were plenty of chickens and cows and horses and a big garden to tend. They loved their animals but she didn’t dare get too attached because she never knew when one of them might be dinner!

They lived a simple life, traveling by horse and buggy into town every six weeks, where she would look forward to an ice cream or bit of chocolate if there was any money left after buying “staples.” I think this is why she could never pass a Dairy Queen without stopping for a cone.

Her father wasn’t fond of cars, he felt they were a passing fancy. But ironically, after they moved into Olathe, he ended up owning a Chrysler dealership, and mom loved Chryslers for the rest of her life.

She suffered from scarlet fever as a young girl and missed two years of school, so she was always two years older than her peers. I think this maturity led her to leadership roles in school, since she was class president, Pep Club president, cheerleader, and in charge of most dances and school outings. Her yearbook praised her for her leadership and dependability. These traits served her well throughout her life.

Mom attended secretarial school in Kansas City and earned money modeling clothes. She loved the nightlife in Kansas City with all the wonderful jazz clubs and big band orchestras. She was so beautiful and vivacious that she attracted many suitors, among them Ed Marshall. He persuaded her to marry him in 1939 and they were able to celebrate 58 years together before his passing.

Her first-born daughter, Nancy Kay, died soon after birth. She gave birth to her first son, Jim, in 1942 and her second son Ed soon followed in 1944. She raised the boys alone while husband, Ed, was overseas in World War II. She took in laundry and cooked for people to make ends meet and she was so happy when Ed finally returned at the end of the war. By 1949 she welcomed her precious daughter Marianne, and so began her favorite career as a mother. And she was the best.

The family moved to Golden, Colorado, in 1957 because Mom had fallen in love with the state after she and three friends had driven there for a summer vacation right after high school.

She loved going to all the activities that her kids participated in and made sure they always had a place for dances and parties. She felt life would be pretty boring without dancing and good food and friends to share it with.

In 1964 they moved to Boulder, Colorado, where mom worked in a dental office. She loved this job because she got free dental care, and one of mom’s favorite things to do was brush her teeth. This habit served her well since she still had all of her own teeth on the day she passed away. And she would proudly share this information with anyone she met.

Since her son Jim was an airline pilot, the world was at her feet. He planned amazing trips for her and she was so thrilled. After they moved to Kalispell in 1972 she spent all her free time traveling to visit relatives and going on trips with friends. Her bags were always ready to be packed and off she would go. Son Ed made sure she had unusual adventures in Mexico and going to rodeos and fishing, And Marianne kept her busy by sharing her love of decorating and making crafts and oil painting. We had some wonderful times together.

Playing bridge was a passion with her. She made so many friends around a bridge table. Thank you to all the ladies who shared her love of this game. I smile when I remember her laughing and having such a great time. Mom also worked at the Kalispell hospital for 15 years as co-administrator of the volunteers. This was her favorite job ever. She met many friends here and she was so good at organizing the program. It was hard for her to leave this job, but she had a lot of traveling to do!

Helen never met a stranger. She was a good friend to everyone and if you were sick or sad she would be at your door with a casserole or some of her famous cinnamon/caramel rolls.

Those rolls healed a lot of heartache over the years. She was pretty outstanding at anything she attempted, and this set a high bar for the rest of us to live up to.

Mom spent her final four years at Timber Creek Village in Columbia Falls. Dementia had robbed her of her short-term memory so she lived in the past with her family and friends. But this wonderful assisted living home allowed her to lead a life of dignity and purpose. She had so many friends there and made a new “bestie” in Catherine who lived down the hall. They had many fun times together and kept the staff on their toes because they never knew what they might come up with next! The staff and residents always had hugs and lots of love for mom, and our family wishes to thank them all for this gift. A special thank you to Kim, Lisa, Corey and the entire staff who made it possible for her to remain at Timber Creek. And to Lisa from Frontier Hospice we want to thank you for your compassion and gentle nature. You all gave her the wonderful gift of spending her last day in her warm snugglie bed with her children and all of you by her side.

Helen passed away Dec. 23, 2015, at 12:15 p.m. just 11 hours and 45 minutes shy of her 99th birthday. But I think she deserves credit for a life well lived so I’m officially making her 99.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed. and her precious poodle Lucas. At 99, she had outlived most of her family and friends who I know were “waiting for her in heaven.”

She is survived by her three children, Jim and Shive Marshall, Ed and Heather Marshall, and Marianne and Richard Lowitz. Also surviving her is sister-in-law Mary Seamand and nieces and nephews, Ron, Vicki, Teresa, Kathy, Tom and Marilyn, and cousins Derwood and Gary. She also leaves her seven grandchildren Lisa, Amber, Melissa, Doug, Laurie, Ginger and Shawn and five great-grandchildren. And of course so many people whose lives she touched and who she made to feel a part of her family. Bless you all.

At mom’s request there will be no service. She only hated two things in life, peas and funerals. So next spring we will have a gathering at Lake McDonald and have a picnic in her honor since that was her favorite place to be. Love you forever, Mom.