Helen Helms

Posted

(Jan. 16, 1923 - Oct. 26, 2016)

Helen Elizabeth Reicher Farias Helms, a dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on Oct. 26, 2016. She was 93.

Helen was born at home in Westmore, Montana, on Jan. 16, 1923, to John Martin Reicher and Golda Mae Annin Reicher. Her younger years were spent in eastern Montana. The family later moved to the Fromberg and Bridger area, and she graduated from high school in 1941.

She met Frank Farias when he hired her as his bookkeeper at the Bridger Creamery. They were married in 1943. To this marriage two daughters, Jackie Faye and Mary Anne Frances, were born.

After Frank and Helen sold the creamery, they moved to Cody in 1961. Helen continued working as a bookkeeper for several businesses, including Big Horn Coca-Cola and J.C. Penney. Her husband, Frank, died in 1972.

In 1974, she married Earl Helms. They enjoyed traveling around the United States.

Helen enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens, fishing and camping. She also loved cooking and baking. For many years, she collected dolls to be given to underprivileged children at Christmastime.

She participated and volunteered in many activities and clubs in the community.

She was an avid walker, who walked daily through her 80s. She was a faithful member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Helen loved her family very much, and they feel very blessed to have had her in their lives.

Helen is survived by daughters Jackie (James) Platt, and Mary Anne (Roger) Koontz, all of Cody; granddaughters Lisa (Chris Scheitle) Platt of Morgantown, West Virginia, Marina (Conall) O’Brien of Ko Olina, Hawaii, Natalie (Will) Griffin of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Whitney (Luke) Maslak of Cody; five great-granddaughters and one great-grandson; brother Alfred Reicher of Bridger, Montana; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, sisters Marjorie Deitsch and Betty Lahey, brothers infant Theodore, Charles, John, and Joe Reicher, and several nieces and nephews.

The Rosary vigil will be Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Cody.

The Mass of the Christian Burial will be Thursday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials in Helen’s name may be made to the Cody Council on Aging 613 16th St. Cody, WY 82414 or the New Mount Carmel Foundation P.O. Box 2507 Cody, WY, 82414.

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