Helen Cameron Simpson, 91, a lifelong resident of Kalispell, died peacefully of natural causes early Monday morning, Nov. 16, 2015, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home.

She was born in Kalispell Oct. 12, 1924, to David S. and Charlotte Bingham Cameron. She was the youngest of four children. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1942 and went on to attend the University of Washington in Seattle, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

She returned to Kalispell after two years of college and married Harold E. “Hap” Simpson, her high school sweetheart, on Nov. 7, 1944. They enjoyed 59 years together before Hap’s death in July 2004.

Helen was a devoted wife and mother. She held the family together while Hap was busy developing a business in the lumber industry. The family had a summer home on Flathead Lake for many years where she loved the lake and the view of the mountains. She was an avid golfer along with the other members of the family and competed in many of the local tournaments. She was a member of Kalispell Golf Association, Eastern Star and a 50-year member of PEO. Helen was a Cub Scout den mother and a Brownie Scout den mother for her children.  

After the children were grown. Hap and Helen enjoyed travel with friends and shared their time between Palm Desert, California, and Kalispell, but wherever Helen was she always had a view of the mountains.  

She was preceded in death by her husband; her sister, Ora Clark; and two brothers, Lewis and Leslie Cameron.

She is survived by her son, Larry R. Simpson, and his wife, Margie, of Kalispell; and twin daughters, Linda Simpson Cloutier of Kalispell, and Kathryn Leary and husband, Tom, of Glenbrook, Nevada; her seven grandchildren, Lisa Cloutier and husband Brian Anderson of Bigfork, David Simpson and wife Ann Lee of Asheville, North Carolina, Jenny Cloutier of Whitefish, Chris Leary of San Francisco, Mike Simpson of Boise, Idaho, John Leary of Whitefish, and Kevin Leary and wife Holly of Reno, Nevada. Helen was the proud great-grandmother of Alexander and Olivia Simpson, Ava and Andrew Leary and Shaw Simpson.  

The family wants to say a special thank you to Shana Myren for her devotion, kindness and friendship to Mom and to all of us over the last 13 years. The family also wants to thank the nurses and aides at Immanuel Lutheran Home for making her last five years as comfortable as possible.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont St. Burial will be in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Shriners Hospital, 911 W. Fifth Avenue, Spokane, WA  99204, a lifelong charity of Helen and Hap’s; or a charity of your choice.

Helen’s heartwarming smile will be missed by all.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.