Helen C. Dawson, 97, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. She was born in Miles City May 10, 1919 to Samuel Cooley, one of the last Open Range Cowboys, and Mary Dayhoff Cooley, pioneer woman homesteader. Her parents ranched north of Miles City until her father was stricken with a debilitating illness that ended his days in the saddle. Her mother cared for Sam for over 20 years, as well as working as city and county treasurer. Helen spent summers at the family ranch run by her aunt and uncle working cattle on horseback and helping on the threshing crew. She attended Washington School and Custer County High School, playing on the women's basketball team, graduating in 1937.
Helen went to work for the U.S. Treasury Dept. in Washington D.C. in 1940, transferring to Helena the next year. When World War Two broke out, Helen's brother, anticipating service, sold off the ranch livestock, but was rated as medically unfit, so Helen began her quest to serve, and entered the newly created Navy WAVES in early 1943. She received advanced training at Indiana University, and served at Alameda Naval Air Station, TADGEN Shoemaker, CA, and Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, Hawaii, where she replenished onboard supplies for Naval fighters and other aircraft returning from combat missions in the Pacific. Off-hours were spent exploring Hawaii, wearing her cowboy boots.
She mustered out in November, 1945, and returned to Helena to work for Treasury. She drove her 1937 Ford sedan in pursuit of a young returning Army veteran, Edward B. Dawson of Boulder. They were married on her birthday in Miles City in 1946 and settled in Helena.
After several years as mother, homemaker, gardener and landscaper, Helen worked a session at the Legislature and then for the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison, where she retired from her position as medical secretary in 1979. She was active in the state and local Women's Auxiliary of the VFW for many years, and was honored in 2009 as Montana's Outstanding Hospital Volunteer by the organization. In 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs honored Helen for 50 years volunteering at the hospital. The VA conferred the Dedicated Service Award for her 7,500 hours of volunteer service to veterans. She also volunteered at St. Paul's Methodist Church and at the Lewis & Clark County Fair.
Helen donated over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross, as well as volunteering at blood drives for many years. In 2004, she was honored as a Red Cross Hero.
The Senior Corps RSVP recognized her for giving over 10,000 hours of service to her community.
Helen was always on the go, loved to travel, and drove her car until she was 95. She served 32 years as an election judge, usually at Kessler School. Helen had a deep sense of civic duty and was indignant when witnessing injustice. She was an avid outdoors woman who made strenuous mountain hikes at advanced age, including two ascents of the Sleeping Giant's nose. She volunteered for and supported the Montana Environmental Information Center in its mission to preserve the natural qualities of her beloved state.
For several years, she worked tirelessly to raise funds and gather information on Montana women veterans for inclusion in the national Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington D.C. She and her three offspring traveled to D.C. in October 1997 for the dedication of the new monument and to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow women veterans. She received the 2011 John Moran Award of the Montana Military Museum for her efforts in assembling the history and stories of 6,500 Montana women military veterans. "Your state has the largest percentage of its women registered of any state in the nation, and that's because of the work of Helen Dawson," said Wilma Vaught, Retired Air Force Brigadier General and head of the national project.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glenn and husband Edward. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew, eight great-grandchildren, and three great- great-grandchildren.
Complete obituary published in Helena Independent Record on Sept 21, 2016
Helen went to work for the U.S. Treasury Dept. in Washington D.C. in 1940, transferring to Helena the next year. When World War Two broke out, Helen's brother, anticipating service, sold off the ranch livestock, but was rated as medically unfit, so Helen began her quest to serve, and entered the newly created Navy WAVES in early 1943. She received advanced training at Indiana University, and served at Alameda Naval Air Station, TADGEN Shoemaker, CA, and Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, Hawaii, where she replenished onboard supplies for Naval fighters and other aircraft returning from combat missions in the Pacific. Off-hours were spent exploring Hawaii, wearing her cowboy boots.
She mustered out in November, 1945, and returned to Helena to work for Treasury. She drove her 1937 Ford sedan in pursuit of a young returning Army veteran, Edward B. Dawson of Boulder. They were married on her birthday in Miles City in 1946 and settled in Helena.
After several years as mother, homemaker, gardener and landscaper, Helen worked a session at the Legislature and then for the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison, where she retired from her position as medical secretary in 1979. She was active in the state and local Women's Auxiliary of the VFW for many years, and was honored in 2009 as Montana's Outstanding Hospital Volunteer by the organization. In 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs honored Helen for 50 years volunteering at the hospital. The VA conferred the Dedicated Service Award for her 7,500 hours of volunteer service to veterans. She also volunteered at St. Paul's Methodist Church and at the Lewis & Clark County Fair.
Helen donated over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross, as well as volunteering at blood drives for many years. In 2004, she was honored as a Red Cross Hero.
The Senior Corps RSVP recognized her for giving over 10,000 hours of service to her community.
Helen was always on the go, loved to travel, and drove her car until she was 95. She served 32 years as an election judge, usually at Kessler School. Helen had a deep sense of civic duty and was indignant when witnessing injustice. She was an avid outdoors woman who made strenuous mountain hikes at advanced age, including two ascents of the Sleeping Giant's nose. She volunteered for and supported the Montana Environmental Information Center in its mission to preserve the natural qualities of her beloved state.
For several years, she worked tirelessly to raise funds and gather information on Montana women veterans for inclusion in the national Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington D.C. She and her three offspring traveled to D.C. in October 1997 for the dedication of the new monument and to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow women veterans. She received the 2011 John Moran Award of the Montana Military Museum for her efforts in assembling the history and stories of 6,500 Montana women military veterans. "Your state has the largest percentage of its women registered of any state in the nation, and that's because of the work of Helen Dawson," said Wilma Vaught, Retired Air Force Brigadier General and head of the national project.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glenn and husband Edward. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew, eight great-grandchildren, and three great- great-grandchildren.
Complete obituary published in Helena Independent Record on Sept 21, 2016
Helen C. Dawson, 97, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. She was born in Miles City May 10, 1919 to Samuel Cooley, one of the last Open Range Cowboys, and Mary Dayhoff Cooley, pioneer woman homesteader. Her parents ranched north of Miles City until her father was stricken with a debilitating illness that ended his days in the saddle. Her mother cared for Sam for over 20 years, as well as working as city and county treasurer. Helen spent summers at the family ranch run by her aunt and uncle working cattle on horseback and helping on the threshing crew. She attended Washington School and Custer County High School, playing on the women's basketball team, graduating in 1937.
Helen went to work for the U.S. Treasury Dept. in Washington D.C. in 1940, transferring to Helena the next year. When World War Two broke out, Helen's brother, anticipating service, sold off the ranch livestock, but was rated as medically unfit, so Helen began her quest to serve, and entered the newly created Navy WAVES in early 1943. She received advanced training at Indiana University, and served at Alameda Naval Air Station, TADGEN Shoemaker, CA, and Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, Hawaii, where she replenished onboard supplies for Naval fighters and other aircraft returning from combat missions in the Pacific. Off-hours were spent exploring Hawaii, wearing her cowboy boots.
She mustered out in November, 1945, and returned to Helena to work for Treasury. She drove her 1937 Ford sedan in pursuit of a young returning Army veteran, Edward B. Dawson of Boulder. They were married on her birthday in Miles City in 1946 and settled in Helena.
After several years as mother, homemaker, gardener and landscaper, Helen worked a session at the Legislature and then for the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison, where she retired from her position as medical secretary in 1979. She was active in the state and local Women's Auxiliary of the VFW for many years, and was honored in 2009 as Montana's Outstanding Hospital Volunteer by the organization. In 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs honored Helen for 50 years volunteering at the hospital. The VA conferred the Dedicated Service Award for her 7,500 hours of volunteer service to veterans. She also volunteered at St. Paul's Methodist Church and at the Lewis & Clark County Fair.
Helen donated over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross, as well as volunteering at blood drives for many years. In 2004, she was honored as a Red Cross Hero.
The Senior Corps RSVP recognized her for giving over 10,000 hours of service to her community.
Helen was always on the go, loved to travel, and drove her car until she was 95. She served 32 years as an election judge, usually at Kessler School. Helen had a deep sense of civic duty and was indignant when witnessing injustice. She was an avid outdoors woman who made strenuous mountain hikes at advanced age, including two ascents of the Sleeping Giant's nose. She volunteered for and supported the Montana Environmental Information Center in its mission to preserve the natural qualities of her beloved state.
For several years, she worked tirelessly to raise funds and gather information on Montana women veterans for inclusion in the national Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington D.C. She and her three offspring traveled to D.C. in October 1997 for the dedication of the new monument and to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow women veterans. She received the 2011 John Moran Award of the Montana Military Museum for her efforts in assembling the history and stories of 6,500 Montana women military veterans. "Your state has the largest percentage of its women registered of any state in the nation, and that's because of the work of Helen Dawson," said Wilma Vaught, Retired Air Force Brigadier General and head of the national project.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glenn and husband Edward. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew, eight great-grandchildren, and three great- great-grandchildren.
Complete obituary published in Helena Independent Record on Sept 21, 2016
Helen went to work for the U.S. Treasury Dept. in Washington D.C. in 1940, transferring to Helena the next year. When World War Two broke out, Helen's brother, anticipating service, sold off the ranch livestock, but was rated as medically unfit, so Helen began her quest to serve, and entered the newly created Navy WAVES in early 1943. She received advanced training at Indiana University, and served at Alameda Naval Air Station, TADGEN Shoemaker, CA, and Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, Hawaii, where she replenished onboard supplies for Naval fighters and other aircraft returning from combat missions in the Pacific. Off-hours were spent exploring Hawaii, wearing her cowboy boots.
She mustered out in November, 1945, and returned to Helena to work for Treasury. She drove her 1937 Ford sedan in pursuit of a young returning Army veteran, Edward B. Dawson of Boulder. They were married on her birthday in Miles City in 1946 and settled in Helena.
After several years as mother, homemaker, gardener and landscaper, Helen worked a session at the Legislature and then for the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison, where she retired from her position as medical secretary in 1979. She was active in the state and local Women's Auxiliary of the VFW for many years, and was honored in 2009 as Montana's Outstanding Hospital Volunteer by the organization. In 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs honored Helen for 50 years volunteering at the hospital. The VA conferred the Dedicated Service Award for her 7,500 hours of volunteer service to veterans. She also volunteered at St. Paul's Methodist Church and at the Lewis & Clark County Fair.
Helen donated over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross, as well as volunteering at blood drives for many years. In 2004, she was honored as a Red Cross Hero.
The Senior Corps RSVP recognized her for giving over 10,000 hours of service to her community.
Helen was always on the go, loved to travel, and drove her car until she was 95. She served 32 years as an election judge, usually at Kessler School. Helen had a deep sense of civic duty and was indignant when witnessing injustice. She was an avid outdoors woman who made strenuous mountain hikes at advanced age, including two ascents of the Sleeping Giant's nose. She volunteered for and supported the Montana Environmental Information Center in its mission to preserve the natural qualities of her beloved state.
For several years, she worked tirelessly to raise funds and gather information on Montana women veterans for inclusion in the national Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington D.C. She and her three offspring traveled to D.C. in October 1997 for the dedication of the new monument and to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow women veterans. She received the 2011 John Moran Award of the Montana Military Museum for her efforts in assembling the history and stories of 6,500 Montana women military veterans. "Your state has the largest percentage of its women registered of any state in the nation, and that's because of the work of Helen Dawson," said Wilma Vaught, Retired Air Force Brigadier General and head of the national project.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glenn and husband Edward. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew, eight great-grandchildren, and three great- great-grandchildren.
Complete obituary published in Helena Independent Record on Sept 21, 2016
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