Helen Joyce Teigen

Our dearest, mom, sister, auntie and friend, Helen Joyce Teigen, age 62, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer at her home in Ronan with her two “little brats” (Charmaine and Shanell), great niece (Shaylene) and close friend (Francine) by her side. After a long, courageous battle, she proved her strong, independent will and tough character, which carried her through to the end.

She was born on Aug. 1, 1949 near Eureka, Mont. to Oswald Sophus and Dorothy Pearl (Wilson) Teigen. Helen was raised in the North Crow area from 1955 to 1965; the family then moved into the town of Ronan in 1965. Helen graduated from Ronan High School in 1967.

Helen was a “Jill of all trades.” In her early years, she worked at Hoppy’s gas station and drove 18-wheeler trucks and cattle trucks for Roy Fisher. She tended bar, helped her brother-in-law Roger Dodger with remodeling, building and other construction. She worked for Mickey McCall at his shop in Ronan, and the San Francisco Feed and Grain elevators, and she sprayed weeds for the county extension office.

Around 1993, she moved to Jefferson City doing road construction. She bartended and waited tables at the Cribbage Board and Stage Stop in Jefferson City. She worked at Walmart in Helena, and at Hillbrook Nursing Home as a dietary assistant, and loved visiting with the residents there. Helen spent many summers at her sister Rita’s helping with the kids and helping with whatever labor she could to help pay for her class ring and first set of store bought clothes.

She loved “BS-ing” and telling jokes, cooking, watching her old western movies and television shows, collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia and listening to her gospel music on Sundays.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Gene “Swede.” She is survived by her daughter Charmaine; grand-dog “Munchkin;” sisters Pat (Fred) of Stevensville, Rita of Ronan, Shirley of Ronan, Alice “Blackie” (Paul) of Havre, and Dorothy of Ronan; brothers Bill (Marge) of Libby, Cliff (Alvina) of Ronan, and Dale of Ronan; half-sister, Helen (Vince) Hamand of Grants Pass, Ore. and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at noon at the Ronan Cemetery; following was a gathering for her family and friends at the Ronan VFW.