Helen Allen, 96

Helen Cossetta (Hammer) Allen, age 96, died on February 13. Helen was born on Nov. 22, 1929, in New Rockford, N.D., to George and Rose (Maginel) Hammer, the third youngest of 16 siblings. After high school graduation, Helen moved to Great Falls, MT with her sister, Rose. Helen attended the Great Falls Commercial College during the day and was a waitress in the evenings. While working in the café, she met the owner’s brother, Ed Allen, who she married in 1949. Before starting a family, Helen worked for the General Motors Acceptance Corp. In between having three children, Deborah, Sharon, & Brian, Helen continued employment at GMAC in Great Falls for a total of 12 years. Ed’s transfer to the Petrolane office in Havre in 1960 gave Helen the opportunity to work in the Northern Montana College business office for the next 30 years, earning the positions of office manager & administrative assistant by taking night courses at NMC. When Ed became consignee of the Havre propane office, Helen was his bookkeeper in her spare time. 

Both Helen & Ed were active members of Van Orsdel United Methodist Church in Havre; Helen served on the church council & committees during the 36 years of membership. The fellowship of the women in Wesley Circle meant a great deal to Helen. After retirement, Helen & Ed relocated to the Flathead Valley to be closer to Sharon’s family. Helen loved the house in the foothills on Three Mile Drive with enough room for a raspberry patch, a few tomato plants, red geraniums and lots of deer. She became a faithful member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell. Once again joining the United Methodist Women’s Sarah Circle created dear friends who together served the church in many ways. Helen found a hard worker in Irene Houston and together they became the “kitchen ladies”. Organizing funeral luncheons was a priority because Helen stated that providing a lunch/reception for the family was the mission of the church freely given. A new organization to Helen was P.E.O. International where she became a member of Chapter C serving as an officer and as a hostess for many meetings. Dear friendships were formed in doing the work of raising funds to help women fulfill educational goals. 

Helen and Ed were loving parents who encouraged their children to set goals. A proud moment for them was when each child earned a college degree. Helen’s 6th grade teacher was the person she felt had changed her life by believing in her abilities. Over the years Helen spoke of her admiration for dedicated teachers. Her two daughters became teachers.   

Both of Helen’s parents died when she was 13 years old. After that she and her little sister & brother went to live with older siblings’ families who lived in the area. During her high school years, Helen was hired by the Doctor’s family in New Rockford to provide childcare and housekeeping duties. Helen was the last of her 16 brothers & sisters to die. When she attended a Maginel family reunion in North Dakota, numerous nieces & nephews introduced Aunt Helen “at age 94, the oldest Maginel in attendance”.  Family was precious to Helen. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and treasured time with them. 

Helen is survived by daughter, Deb (Bob) Sapp of Kalispell, grandson, Josh Kirby and great-granddaughter, Jayda of Havre, great-grandson, James of North Pole, AK; daughter, Sharon (David) Young of Lakeside, granddaughters: Kendra (Paul) Harris, great-granddaughters Charlotte & Ginny, great-grandson, Roman of New Orleans; Lauren (Rich) Terrett, great-granddaughters, Emily of TX, Aubrey, & Taylor of Kalispell; Jaime (Greg) Weber, great-granddaughter, Breanna, great-grandsons, Ethan, Uecker & Jasper of Franklin, Wis.;  Sarah Ramey, great-grandsons, Fletcher & Emerson of Kalispell; son, Brian (Mary Kim) Allen of Ola, ID, granddaughter, Lindsey (Travis) Breckenridge, great-grandsons Chase, Parker & Cash, great-granddaughters Emily, Lily & Remi of Boise, ID; grandson, Nicholas (Erin) Allen, great-grandsons Noah & Zack, great-granddaughter Elise of Kuna, ID. Helen’s nieces & nephews from her 13 siblings who had children are too numerous to list but were dear to her. Many kept in touch with Helen over these years. 

Special neighbors provided ways for Helen to remain in her own house after Ed died. Church friends included Helen in activities even after she no longer drove. Wel-Life Assisted Living provided Helen with what she described as “If I can’t be in my own house, this is a pretty good place to be.” The care provided by Hospice allowed Helen to remain in her apartment. Helen’s outlook on life was to count the blessings. 

Helen’s life is exemplified by a favorite quotation, “When you are in a position to help someone, be glad and always do it; that’s God answering someone else’s prayer through you.”   

Celebration of life is Wednesday, July 1 at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at the Epworth United Methodist Church, 329 2nd Ave E, Kalispell. Interment of her ashes beside her husband’s will be at 2:30 pm at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. In lieu of flowers, suggestions for remembering Helen include to Smith Memorial Child Care at Epworth UMC, to Van Orsdel UMC in Havre, Montana or to Logan Health Hospice, Kalispell.