Helen Mary (Walsh) Vacura, 89, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2014, at Heritage Place health care community in Kalispell.

Helen was born Dec. 8, 1924, in Nereson Township Roseau, Minn., to John Joseph Walsh Jr., and Elizabeth (Witzman) Walsh. Helen was the first born of five children of Irish and German decent. She grew up and went to school in the Greenbush area on the family farm in Barnett Township and graduated from Greenbush High school in 1943. 

Helen married Theodore “Ted” A. Vacura July 15, 1944, in Greenbush, Minn.; they were married for 68 years. Helen and Ted moved from Minnesota to Scobey and lived there for many years and started their family there, having three children — Karen, Kathy and Allen. They moved to Wolf Point where they operated an Enco gas station for three years. They then moved to Kalispell where Ted worked for Landry Oil and for City Service. Helen was a homemaker; she was a great cook and made homemade bread for the family for many years. 

Helen worked as a volunteer in the early years at the Kalispell Food Bank. It was here that she met and made many memorable friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bill and Philip Walsh; and her daughter, Karen Watne, and her husband, Ted. 

Helen is survived by daughter, Kathy, and Ron Lebert, of Kalispell; son, Al, and Shannon, of Kalispell; brothers, Leo Walsh of Baudett, Minn., and John Walsh and Delores of Fargo, N.D.; special friend and sister-in-law, Marilyn Walsh, of Greenbush; grandchildren, Paul and Stephanie Lebert of Kalispell, Janice and Will Brewer of Kalispell, Chris Andersen of Kalispell, Brian Watne of Columbia Falls, Katrina Vacura of Kalispell, and Tori Vacura and family of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandchildren, Mikayla, Bethany, Daniel and Ashlyn Lebert, Nichole Stevens, Katelyn and Robert Drager, Amber Andersen and Brandon Watne, all of Kalispell; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews in Minnesota. 

Helen is loved by so many and will be missed by all that knew her. She will always be remembered for her grace and kindness to all.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home Kalispell, with visitation to be held one hour prior, at noon. Burial will follow services at Glacier Memorial Gardens.