Helen MaRee Hakola, 87
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 hour, 50 minutes AGO
Hakola
Helen MaRee Hakola, 87, of Kingston, Idaho, passed away March 8, 2026, at Mountain Valley of Cascadia Nursing Home in Kellogg, Idaho. Helen was born July 2, 1938, in Poplar, Idaho, a daughter of the late Gerwin and Leola (Christensen) Bowcutt. She grew up in the Bellevue, Idaho, area.
Helen was an extraordinary woman, a rock of the family. She was a loving, devoted and supportive mother and grandmother. She was an avid hunter and enjoyed riding snowmobiles and motorcycles. She also enjoyed camping, traveling, painting, gardening, baking, knitting and crocheting. Most of all, her greatest love was her family and her dog.
In addition to raising her family, Helen worked side by side with her husband, Stanley, to build a business selling snowmobiles and motorcycles. In later years, she attended cosmetology school and worked as a beautician for several years. She also worked as a seamstress.
Helen was married to Stanley “Bud” Gerald Johnson in Ketchum, Idaho, and lived there for several years. They had three daughters and eventually divorced.
Helen later married William Thomas Howard and moved to the Silver Valley, where she resided until her death. They had one son and eventually divorced.
Helen married Gerald Dwayne Hakola, who preceded her in death Dec. 5, 2022.
Surviving are her three daughters, Deonne (Arthur) Moyers of Spangle, Wash., Denise (Jerry) Ellingson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Chris (Harry) Vlastelic of Kingston, Idaho; her son, Shane Howard of Smelterville, Idaho; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Bella.
Helen was also preceded in death by her sister, Ruth (Bowcutt) Drussel, and brothers Lavon Bowcutt and Myrle Bowcutt.
In honoring her wishes, her body has been cremated. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and her ashes will be interred in the Bellevue, Idaho, cemetery.
Memories of Helen and messages of condolence may be shared online with her family at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com. Shoshone Funeral Services of the Silver Valley is caring for the Hakola family.