Tribute

Helen Stephenson passed away peacefully in Oliver, British Columbia on July 30.

Born and raised in Humboldt, Saskatchewan alongside her two brothers, Edward and Arthur, and two sisters, Mary and Elsie, Helen possessed a sharp mind, witty sense of humour, and a strong devotion to service. As a young woman, she joined the military, where she proudly served her country as a radio controller. Later in life, her aptitude for mathematics facilitated her work as an accountant. In her spare time, she loved to do Sudoku and crossword puzzles and helped her son pass his high school Math classes by connecting problems to real-life examples.

It was at the Elks Club that Helen met Ken Stephenson. The two instantly hit it off on the dance floor and were soon married. Helen and her son James joined Ken and his children in a rural area of Trail called the Pend d’Oreille. There Ken and Helen loved to work outdoors – Ken would tinker away in the garage while Helen tended the gardens and prepared canned goods to fill the cellar for the winter months. Owning several horses, they embraced the rodeo lifestyle, and Helen could always be found helping run the office and social events for the Trail Horseman’s Society. Helen also enjoyed curling and the camaraderie and friendly competition of the rink. After retirement, they became ‘snowbirds’ – travelling to Yuma, Arizona for warmth during the Kootenay winters before finally settling in Oliver.

Helen will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. Helen’s ashes will be scattered by members of her family at Christina Lake in a small private ceremony in the near future.