Helen M. Kaeding, 88, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, at her home with her family with her.

"She was ready to go to Heaven to be with her Lord."

Helen was born Aug. 4, 1920, in Coburg, Ore., to Lawrence and Lena Christopherson. The family moved to Whitefish before Helen was 1 year old.

Their mother passed away when Helen and her sister June were very young. Their father was ill, so Helen and June went to live with Art and Edith Papendick. Helen attended Kuhns school and Flathead County High School, graduating in 1939.

On Dec. 25, 1939, she married Carl Vogler in Kalispell. They farmed west of Kalispell and in November 1945, they adopted Carole. In May 1963, Carl passed away suddenly.

She then married Leonard Kaeding in 1965. Leonard passed away in October 1996.

Helen was a longtime members of Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church and was involved in church activities. She was a 4-H leader and was a member of the Weavers Club. She demonstrated her spinning and weaving for schools in the valley.

Helen enjoyed traveling, and had many stories about the time she and Leonard traveled to Alaska. A very high point in her life was a trip to the Holy Land with her church group. She told us about her adventure riding a camel, a great time for her.

She continued living on the farm until she moved to a home on Sunburst Court, later moving to Westview Drive.

In 2006, she moved in with her daughter Carole.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Lena Christopherson, Art and Edith Papendick and Gilman Sagen; husbands, Carl Vogler and Leonard Kaeding; sister, June Brosten; and brother-in-law, Pete Brosten.

She is survived by her daughter, Carole, and husband, Robert McAtee; five grandchildren, Robert McMannamy, Shane, Jeff and wife-to-be, (Brandi) McAtee, Pamela McMannamy, and David and wife, Heidi McAtee; six great-grandchildren Darin Owens, Austin, Kyrstin, Brady, Parker and Cooper McAtee; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Helen will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Helen will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church. Burial will be afterward at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

The family requests memorial contributions to be made to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, Montana, 59901 in Helen's memory.

Friends are encouraged to visit our Web site at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolences for the family.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.