Helen Ugland Elizabeth Hale

April 21, 1922 – October 8, 2013

Helen Hale passed away on October 8, 2013 in Portland Oregon. She was born April 21, 1922 near Brentford, South Dakota. The third of six children born to Olav and Gertha Ugland, she grew up among many aunts, uncles and cousins living on neighboring farms. Helen graduated from Brentford High School in 1940 and moved to Tacoma, Washington. Mutual friends introduced her to Bob Hale. They married on April 21, 1946. That began a strong and happy relationship that lasted until Bob’s death in 1998. Helen and Bob moved to Vancouver in 1955.

In the Vancouver area, Helen was a noted duplicate bridge player and teacher. She was also active at St Luke’s Episcopal Church where she taught Sunday School and served on the church vestry. Helen volunteered for many years at FISH, a local food pantry for the hungry.

Helen is survived by her daughters Christine Neilsen (Tom) of Portland and Martha Hunt (Bill) of Gresham, grandchildren Stephanie Sundborg, Brent Neilsen, Erin Hunt and Darlene Hunt-Perry, her sister Nona Sabatka, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, her siblings Ruth, Gladys, Richard and Owen, and her granddaughter Annett Hunt.

A memorial service for Helen will be held on Saturday, October 19 at 2:00 at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 426 East Fourth Plain Boulevard, Vancouver. The family requests that remembrances of Helen be directed to a charity of your choice.