Helmeth Christian “Windy” Christman

Helmeth Christman, 85, long-time resident of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the family home in the early morning hours of Nov. 29, 2010.

Helmeth was born Feb. 24, 1925 on the Christman homestead in Ree (near Beulah), N. D. He was the last of 11 children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Jakob and Anna Maria (Ost) Christman. Shortly after his birth, he was baptized into the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Helmeth spent his early years on the farm along with his siblings. The Great Depression began, and the family lost the farm and moved west to Idaho. When Helmeth’s father found out about the great fishing on the Flathead River, the family relocated to the Flathead Valley in March 1931 and called Columbia Falls home.

Times were extremely difficult in the 1930s, but ingenuity and German stubbornness got the family through, along with friendships made with the Clapper family and the very large Anton Hoerner family. But there were also memorable times. He and his niece, Florence, born not too long after the family settled in Columbia Falls, became good pals and got into many scrapes together, but Uncle Helmeth always looked out for her. Helmeth never forgot when he had saved some extra money and bought bananas and maple nut ice cream. He ate too much, became sick, and never liked bananas and maple nut ice cream after that. At Christmas, he appreciated receiving a simple bag of nuts and oranges as a gift. His older brothers always played tricks on him, and he learned the hard way to avoid hollow logs where skunks could hide.

Helmeth attended public school in Columbia Falls until the eighth grade. He often spoke of his favorite teacher, Mrs. Eddie, who, when Helmeth was seriously sick with tonsillitis, provided the much needed money so that he could have his tonsils removed. Helmeth had a natural ear for music, learning how to play the mouth harmonica, piano and squeezebox accordion. As a young man, he became an avid fisherman and hunter, always treating the outdoors with great respect. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends, and especially with his brothers, Fred and Walter, and passed along his love of these activities to his children and grandchildren. He inherited from his father a great admiration for horses and fondly remembered his favorite saddle horse, Bill.

Because of a childhood injury, Helmeth was unable to serve in World War II, but along with many civilians at the time, he did his part to help the war effort on the home front. He worked as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which allowed him to further develop his appreciation of the outdoors. In the 1940s, Helmeth also worked for Robert and Eunice Howard and Sam and Evelyn Casne on their farms and ranches. One of Helmeth’s helpmates on the Howard ranch was Ponto, the Howards’ pet dog. The two were inseparable during the time Helmeth spent there. During President Harry S. Truman’s visit to Columbia Falls in 1953 to dedicate the Hungry Horse Dam, Helmeth had the privilege of guarding the President’s train as part of the security team the City of Columbia Falls had provided.

Having spent so much time in the outdoors, it seemed appropriate that he began his lifetime profession in the timber industry. In the late 1940s, Helmeth worked at Superior Lumber Company in Columbia Falls. During wildfire season, he would be reminded of the days when he and his coworkers would be pulled out of the mill to help fight fires  — after all, it was their livelihood they were saving. In 1952, he began working as an edgerman at the newly established Plum Creek sawmill in Columbia Falls, a position he maintained for 34 years until his retirement. Early on, his coworkers realized that he liked to tell tall tales and stories, so they affectionately nicknamed him “Windy”.

On Feb. 5, 1952, Helmeth married Lorene Fraeschle, who happened to be his sister-in-law’s younger sister. They married in the Judge’s Chambers at Columbia Falls’ City Hall and established their home along the Flathead River, as had most of the Christman family. When the Flood of 1964 hit, Helmeth and Lorene lost everything, as did so many other families. But with much determination and the kindness of several Columbia Falls’ businessmen that Helmeth had known as a young man, they were able to rebuild their home and life north of town.

Life after the flood was not very easy. There were several difficult economic times throughout the years, but Helmeth and Lorene always managed. During these times, they taught their children to be thankful and satisfied with what they had, to be as self-sufficient as possible even when it wasn’t easy, to consider the consequences when making decisions, and to never owe a debt, even if it was only a debt of a penny.

Before his health declined, Helmeth spent much time outdoors, tinkering around the house or his workshop, and spending winter days ice fishing on Smith Lake. Along with Lorene, he became a member of the Northwest Montana Accordion Association and made many friends through the organization.

Helmeth was preceded in death by his parents, as well as all his siblings and their spouses: sister Emma (Joseph Walker), toddler sister Ella, brother Fred (Clara Fraeschle), sister Olga (Dorwin Dewitt), brother Julius (Gladys Matthiason), sister Elma (Fred Schaffer and Clarence Hendershott), brother Walter (Doris Nunn), infant sister Katie, sister Eva (James Lanegan), sister Elsie (Clarence Palmer); his best canine companion, Roscoe and feline friend, Tommy.

He is survived by Lorene, his wife of 58 years; son Lyle and Tiffany of Seattle, daughter Diane and Steve Holladay of Kila,and daughter Edith of Columbia Falls; grandchildren Beth and Mike Schultz of Arnold, Calif.; Katie Christman of Kalispell, Jacob Christman of Kalispell, Joshua Holladay of Great Falls, and Trevor Holladay of Kila; great-grandchildren Dominic, Sarah, Avery, Ella Jo, Mary Louise, Aiden and Lisa Nevaeh; former daughter-in-law Linda Whitaker of Kalispell; many nieces and nephews; and his faithful feline companion of 16 years, Kitt.

The family has named Jim Coulson, Dick Downing, Rial Green, Robert Howard, Tom Oliver and Vic Steen, Jr. as honorary pallbearers.

The family expresses its sincere gratitude to the staff of North Valley Hospital and the Home Options’ Hospice nurses for their wonderful care of Helmeth during his last days.

Visitation was Friday, Dec. 3 at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Funeral services were at Columbia Mortuary on Saturday, Dec. 4. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A potluck gathering for family and friends was held at the Columbia Falls Seniors’ Center on Nucleus Avenue after interment.

Cards of condolences may be sent to the Christman family at P.O. Box 1431, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.