Mary Jane Helpman, daughter of Nez Perce County pioneers and known for her outgoing nature, ready smile, and a list of friends that could fill a phone book, peacefully closed her eyes for the last time Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Royal Plaza Care Center in Lewiston. Clear of mind and active until the last few weeks, she was unable to recover from a fall that resulted in a broken hip following the recent death of her husband, Hugh.
Mary Jane was born to George S. Riggs and Vandelene (Theissen) Riggs on April 4, 1920, in Lewiston. She was raised on the family farm in upper Tammany, where her mother died when Mary Jane was 5 years old. She attended the Locust Grove School through the eighth grade and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938. She married Willard Wilson on July 2, 1938. That early marriage produced one daughter, George Ann. Employed as a telephone operator by Pacific Northwest Bell for 36 years, Mary Jane retired in 1981.
She married Hugh Helpman on Feb. 7, 1965, in Las Vegas. Living in Lewiston and for a time enjoying a recreational home at Syringa, the Helpmans led an active life steelhead fishing, and playing cards and were avid golfers. Mary Jane and Hugh moved to Royal Plaza Retirement Center four years ago and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Hugh died on May 6 of this year.
Mary Jane belonged to the Telephone Pioneers, Ladies of the Moose Lodge No. 751, Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles Lodge No. 631, the Clarkston Golf and Country Club Women's Association, and was an active volunteer at Royal Plaza.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Hugh Helpman; and a half-sister, Betty Jo Hutchinson.
Lewiston Tribune June 17, 2015
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Mary Jane was born to George S. Riggs and Vandelene (Theissen) Riggs on April 4, 1920, in Lewiston. She was raised on the family farm in upper Tammany, where her mother died when Mary Jane was 5 years old. She attended the Locust Grove School through the eighth grade and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938. She married Willard Wilson on July 2, 1938. That early marriage produced one daughter, George Ann. Employed as a telephone operator by Pacific Northwest Bell for 36 years, Mary Jane retired in 1981.
She married Hugh Helpman on Feb. 7, 1965, in Las Vegas. Living in Lewiston and for a time enjoying a recreational home at Syringa, the Helpmans led an active life steelhead fishing, and playing cards and were avid golfers. Mary Jane and Hugh moved to Royal Plaza Retirement Center four years ago and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Hugh died on May 6 of this year.
Mary Jane belonged to the Telephone Pioneers, Ladies of the Moose Lodge No. 751, Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles Lodge No. 631, the Clarkston Golf and Country Club Women's Association, and was an active volunteer at Royal Plaza.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Hugh Helpman; and a half-sister, Betty Jo Hutchinson.
Lewiston Tribune June 17, 2015
==
Mary Jane Helpman, daughter of Nez Perce County pioneers and known for her outgoing nature, ready smile, and a list of friends that could fill a phone book, peacefully closed her eyes for the last time Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Royal Plaza Care Center in Lewiston. Clear of mind and active until the last few weeks, she was unable to recover from a fall that resulted in a broken hip following the recent death of her husband, Hugh.
Mary Jane was born to George S. Riggs and Vandelene (Theissen) Riggs on April 4, 1920, in Lewiston. She was raised on the family farm in upper Tammany, where her mother died when Mary Jane was 5 years old. She attended the Locust Grove School through the eighth grade and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938. She married Willard Wilson on July 2, 1938. That early marriage produced one daughter, George Ann. Employed as a telephone operator by Pacific Northwest Bell for 36 years, Mary Jane retired in 1981.
She married Hugh Helpman on Feb. 7, 1965, in Las Vegas. Living in Lewiston and for a time enjoying a recreational home at Syringa, the Helpmans led an active life steelhead fishing, and playing cards and were avid golfers. Mary Jane and Hugh moved to Royal Plaza Retirement Center four years ago and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Hugh died on May 6 of this year.
Mary Jane belonged to the Telephone Pioneers, Ladies of the Moose Lodge No. 751, Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles Lodge No. 631, the Clarkston Golf and Country Club Women's Association, and was an active volunteer at Royal Plaza.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Hugh Helpman; and a half-sister, Betty Jo Hutchinson.
Lewiston Tribune June 17, 2015
==
Mary Jane was born to George S. Riggs and Vandelene (Theissen) Riggs on April 4, 1920, in Lewiston. She was raised on the family farm in upper Tammany, where her mother died when Mary Jane was 5 years old. She attended the Locust Grove School through the eighth grade and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938. She married Willard Wilson on July 2, 1938. That early marriage produced one daughter, George Ann. Employed as a telephone operator by Pacific Northwest Bell for 36 years, Mary Jane retired in 1981.
She married Hugh Helpman on Feb. 7, 1965, in Las Vegas. Living in Lewiston and for a time enjoying a recreational home at Syringa, the Helpmans led an active life steelhead fishing, and playing cards and were avid golfers. Mary Jane and Hugh moved to Royal Plaza Retirement Center four years ago and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Hugh died on May 6 of this year.
Mary Jane belonged to the Telephone Pioneers, Ladies of the Moose Lodge No. 751, Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles Lodge No. 631, the Clarkston Golf and Country Club Women's Association, and was an active volunteer at Royal Plaza.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Hugh Helpman; and a half-sister, Betty Jo Hutchinson.
Lewiston Tribune June 17, 2015
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