Helen Claire Bradbury, 82, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

She was born March 15, 1923, in Berkeley, Calif., to Ralph and Grace Twogood. From the time she was born, her parents instilled in her a sense of adventure and courage.

At 17, she traveled with her parents to visit her brother in Alaska. Helen did not return to California.

Enlivened by the beauty and excitement of frontier Alaska, Helen enrolled in school and eventually met her husband, Mack A. Bradbury. They were married Dec. 21, 1941, in Berkeley. Mack was a trucker there who hauled freight to many interesting places.

The couple spent 21 years traveling to exciting towns such as Fairbanks and roughing it in mining towns such as Dawson. Helen found her talents in organization and keeping financial records for the business.

Their son, Joel, was 10 years old when they asked him whether he would enjoy a baby sister. He enthusiastically endorsed the adoption of his sisters, Evelyn and Donna.

The family moved to Lake Tahoe, where Mack began a business of heavy-equipment contracting. Helen worked for 11 years as secretary to the principal of the high school.

When the opportunity presented itself to purchase 43 acres near Swan Lake in Montana, they moved the family to the valley and developed a mobile home park. It was important to them that the homes in the park have private yards and cleared only as many trees as necessary to maintain the aesthetics of mountain living. They also provided a shop area, equipped with tools for residents to use.

Helen had a strong spiritual base. She enjoyed attending Swan Chapel and supporting the church activities there and participating in the Ferndale Sewing Circle.

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband; her parents; two great-grandchildren, Tyler Bradbury and Cooper Chatwood; and a brother, Ron Twogood.

She is survived by her son, Joel Bradbury, of Bigfork; two daughters, Donna Nicholson and husband, Al, of Sparks, Nev., and Ev Wood and husband, Mike, of Bigfork; eight grandchildren, Matt and wife, Lisa, Adam and wife, Jackie, Jason and wife, Natalie, Schauntelle and husband, Jason, Sarah and husband, John, and Jeff and fiancee, Julie, Joe, and David; 11 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Madison, Alyssa, Cody, Connor, Ryan, Layne, Kya, Ethan, Cassie and Scotty; and one sister, Ruth Schmoekel, of California.

Memorial services for Helen will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Swan Chapel in Swan Lake, with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. There will be no visitation.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Helen's family.