Helen Dagny (Stenberg) Vehrs, 79, of Missoula, died peacefully at home in Missoula on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. She was born June 24, 1930, in Mankato, Minn., to Sigval and Ragna (Thorson) Stenberg. She grew up on the family farm near Amboy, Minn., where she attended grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse in the country. Helen graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in teaching and moved to Missoula, where she worked for Missoula County High School as a librarian and English teacher. After a three-month courtship, she married Carson H. Vehrs Jr. on Dec. 29, 1955. The couple lived in Missoula while Carson finished college and then moved to Oregon, where Carson worked in the food service department first at Lewis & Clark College and then at Southern Oregon College. Mom found great pleasure in creating beautiful gardens and homes wherever the family lived. They moved back to Missoula in 1969 when Carson became director of food services for the University of Montana and then later opened Vehrs Wine Imports. After raising her family, Helen worked as a records clerk at Sentinel High School for 18 years and retired in 1997. She was a devoted mother who embraced the role of soccer mom before the term existed, bravely shuttling her kids and their friends to and from games, swimming pools and parks in the old Pontiac station wagon. Driving was not a favorite activity for Helen, but with her strong character and love for her children, she always managed to get the gang to where they needed to be. Helen showed an intense interest in all people she met. Her fantastic dry wit and sense of humor entertained generations of friends and family. More than anything, she loved sitting in her living room chair and discussing the politics and issues of the day. Even during the last few weeks of her life, she continued to make us laugh until we cried saying such things as, This air bed is like sleeping on a plowed field. She was very community-oriented and volunteered several places, including Fort Missoula, the writing center at Hellgate High School, the Missoula County Court House and Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she folded bulletins for many years. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 52 years. Helen is survived by daughter Teresa Vore and her husband John Vore, and granddaughter Callie Morris, of Kalispell; son John Vehrs and his wife Brenda Vehrs, and grandson Grant Vehrs, of Great Falls; and son Richard Vehrs and his wife Renee, and grandson Justin and his wife Kristen, and great-granddaughter Kylee. A celebration of Helen s life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Missoula. A reception will be held immediately following the service in the same location. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Ave., Missoula, MT 59801, or to a charity of your choice. Cremation services are entrusted to the care and direction of Brothers Mortuary and Crematory in Hamilton. Condolences and memories may be e-mailed to brothersR@msn.com.