Helen L. Boling

July 29, 1922 - June 21, 2018

Helen lived a full, sometimes difficult, yet connected life of nearly ninety-six years. She loved to read, play Yahtzee, cook, bead, and create clothing and crocheted items. Helen was a steady worker, mother of six (two through marriage), grandmother of ten, and great grandmother of nine. She navigated a marriage of nearly sixty years, and found Colorado to be her true home. Helen was able to open her mind and expand her compassion to see the world and its beings as valued and valuable in all their authentic forms. Even though her last six months were particularly difficult, Helen was able to, “Do the best she could with what she had left,” remaining a steady role model with a fully engaged mind and sense of humor.

Helen was born on July 29, 1922, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the sixth of seven children, to Otha Leo and Bertha (Selden) Crisp. Her siblings: Fay, (Ethel, Harry), Walt, Othie and Wilma preceded her in death. She never knew Ethel and Harry. They died quite young, from illness, in 1912 (just nine days apart). Helen lived a decade of her formative years (ages 4-14) in the small Kansas town of Richfield, where her parents ran a grocery store and restaurant. At that time, Richfield had a courthouse in operation. Court days were quite busy at the restaurant! Helen lived through the excruciating times of the Dust Bowl, and worked to help her family from a young age. Their lives were basic subsistence. The bedrooms were behind the restaurant. It was an “unfancy, down home, bare necessities” type of place.

In high school, Helen and younger sister, Wilma, moved to Dallas, Texas, living with their eldest brother, Fay, and his family. A year later, they moved to Hutchinson, where her parents had relocated, and finished high school.

Helen attended Halstead School of Nursing, in Kansas, from 1940-1943, graduating as a Registered Nurse. Her experience at Halstead was foundational, and led to the adventures of leaving Kansas for nursing jobs in Colorado, including a few years as an Army Nurse during WWII. She also worked a few weeks on the children’s polio ward of Colorado General Hospital, some of the most grueling work of her life, before starting at the new Fort Logan VA Hospital. She met Millard Boling there in 1946. They married the following year, and became parents to four children: Micki (Kathryn Michaele), Mike (Michael), Terri and Mark.

Helen was away from her career as a nurse a couple of decades, raising her children and working jobs that were more accommodating with time. In the mid-1960s she returned to work as an RN at Swedish Hospital. By the time she retired, in 1977, she was an evening supervisor.

Helen has been a gift to the world. She was socially connected through aqua class, Red Hats, her United Methodist church, Tuesday morning breakfast group, NARFE, Swedish Hospital retired nurses, the residents of her condominium complex, friends and family. Helen’s ability to keep in touch with people created a broad network of rich relationships. Some of her friendships spanned six-plus decades. Helen collected money for NARFE Alzheimer’s Research for over three decades. Friends and family expected that a little bag would be passed around, and so brought their coins and bills to contribute. Helen was crowned “Peach Queen” at her church for all her continued work in their yearly fundraiser. For many, Helen was a world mom through her longevity, nurturing, perseverance, and ways of creating community.

When asked what she was most grateful for, Helen quickly replied, “My kids!” One insight she shared was, “The difference between a friend and a relative is you might not like your relatives but you don’t cast them out. With friends you like them or you wouldn’t have them.” To Helen one good friend was priceless.

Helen’s tapestry of life was woven with threads of golden friendship and family relations, with the fabric of adaptability, fortitude and love. She was filled with spiritual connection, and lived this quietly without fanfare or boasting. Helen taught that you do what you can each day to the best of your capabilities. Helen is deeply missed. Her legacy continues.

Services will be at 10:00 am, Tuesday July 3, 2018 at Spirit of Hope Church, 3885 S. Broadway Street, Englewood, CO 80113 with reception to follow. Helen will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Her service to her country will be recognized with military honors rendered by the US Army.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to, please donate to NARFE/Alzheimer’s Research, and send to:

c/o Helen L. Boling, 3675 S. Cherokee St., #606, Englewood, CO 80110