Helen Morris

Helen May Morris, 97, passed away of natural causes at her home in Whitefish on Oct. 15, 2014.

She was born Nov. 24, 1916, in Whitefish to the Belvederes, who died in the flu epidemic when she was two years old. She was adopted by Obie and Pearlie Clark and grew up in Whitefish.

Helen met her husband David Morris when she was eight and he was 12. They married on their shared birthday, Nov. 24, 1935, when she was 19. They had three children and were happily married for 73 years.

Helen was very active in her home, community and church. She enjoyed gardening, photography, record keeping, baking and feeding people.

Their various livelihoods were logging, ranching, farming, outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, heavy equipment construction and snow removal. They were pioneers in the Sheriff Posse, O-Mok-See, the Whitefish Saddle Club, the Back Country Horsemen, among other activities. In 2013, Helen had the honor of being the last First Lady of Whitefish.

Her husband David preceded her in death at 96 in 2008.

Helen is survived by her daughter Marie Morris Hedman, of Kalispell; son Robert Morris, of Whitefish; grandchildren Doug Hedman and wife Kathy, of Washington, Dale Hedman and wife Annette, of California, Dave Morris and wife Wendy, Mark Morris and wife Sherilyn, Darcy Morris, of Whitefish, and Yvette Holler and husband Bruce, of the U.S. Army; 11 great grandchildren; nine great great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A burial service will take place at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. A memorial service will follow at First Baptist Church of Whitefish at 11:30 a.m.