Helen Monserud Bowers

CORVALLIS — Helen Monserud Bowers, 86, of Corvallis died early Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at Marcus Daly Hospice.

Helen was born June 24, 1920, at Chance, S.D., at the family homestead to Peter and Cora Monserud. Her early education was completed up to eighth grade at the rural Old Johnson School. Helen attended her first two years of high school by living with other families and milking cows for her room and board the first year at Faith, S.D., and second at Bison, S.D. The last two years of high school, she attended the State School of Agriculture in Brookings, S.D.

After graduation, Helen enrolled in Black Hills College and worked for her room and board with a family in Spearfish. With a one-year degree called a first-grade certificate, Helen obtained a position teaching rural school Scotch Cap School in South Dakota.

After a year of teaching, Helen married Robert Van Bowers in Hill City, S.D. They later moved to St. Ignatius. Helen had five children. The marriage didn't work out, so she moved back to South Dakota, renewed her certificate and got a job teaching country school again. Helen completed her two-year course for teaching, then applied for and received a position teaching fifth and sixth grade in Hogeland.

Two years later, she completed her bachelor's degree and applied for and received a teaching position in Havre. While living in Havre, Helen completed her master's degree at Eastern Montana College in Billings by attending summer school. Helen worked for 16 years in Havre Public Schools, during which time she assisted her younger children in obtaining degrees at Northern Montana College.

In 1980, she began the biggest adventure of her life in Alaska. She was hired as an itinerant reading supervisor. The job entailed flying from King Salmon, Alaska, to outlying smaller schools, where she assisted local teachers with implementing a new reading program. Having completed two years in the position, she took a job as principal teacher at the village of Ivanoff Bay.

Helen had a great rapport with the Aleut villagers. They kept her well-supplied with caribou, salmon, clams and crab. She, in return, cooked a huge turkey dinner for them every thanksgiving. She thoroughly enjoyed her time in Alaska, despite the difficulty of obtaining supplies, dealing with cantankerous generators and communication by marine radio only.

At the age of 65, Helen retired to her new home in Ronan. Her garden and yard reflected her love of nature and beauty. She spent many happy hours working in her yard. The family always looked forward to her amazing applesauce spiced with Red Hots.

After nine years in Ronan, Helen chose to move to the Bitterroot Valley due to increasing costs for water and taxes in Lake County. She purchased a new manufactured home and moved to Corvallis, where the yard work began again. She planted three Colorado Blue Spruce, a lush lawn and many flowers. Up until last year, Helen continued to live independently, caring for herself and her cat. She even occasionally tutored students in reading because of her dedication to education.

Among her interests were a passion for word puzzles, Jeopardy and classical music. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Cora Monserud of Spearfish; daughter Sylvia Ebaugh, and grandchildren Raquel and Scott.

Survivors include her children, Kirk Lewis, Ronald David, Naomi Kay and Delbert Leonard; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a myriad of friends.

Garden City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.