Helen Bernice Lusk

after some minor self imposed infraction. Helen Bernice Banbury made her entrance into the world on Oct.17, 1917, the only child of Irene and Ray Banbury, in Buhl, ID. The 11th of January, 2015 ---- she flew away at the age of 97.

Growing up in Buhl, ID, graduating high school, and entering the University of Idaho, lead her to marrying a very handsome rascal, Warren Tegan in 1939. With WWII raging, Warren deployed to North Africa, fighting through Africa, Italy and into Germany. Finally returning home after 3 years to Helen and his new daughter, Elaine, who, upon meeting her Daddy for the first time, bit him.

Warren was hired by International Harvester in Portland, Oregon, followed by relocation to Seattle, Washington, where a second little girl, Joyce, was born. After years of city life, the Tegan family farm beckoned. The family moved to the Tegan family farm in Filer, Idaho, in 1954, where, Helen, ever the city gal, took on her role of a farmer’s wife with the same élan as swimming the mighty Snake River in years past. Helen’s father had owned Banbury Hot Springs where Helen perfected her beautiful diving and swimming skills. In the role of farmer’s wife, she cooked great meals for her family, drove truck, and planted a large garden, earning the title of the “Zucchini Queen of Twin Falls County”.

Helen volunteered for the American Heart Association, with her husband’s encouragement, to strengthen her independence; especially poignant, since all the Tegan men had died from heart attacks. After 11 years on the farm, unfortunately, her husband, Warren, died of one. She was offered a position in Quincy, Illinois with the Heart Association as the regional director for Southern Illinois. She took the job sight unseen; being the strong, beautiful woman that she was. Taking up golf again, she joined a country club where she met and made great friends. A Mr. Jack Lusk also played golf there and they were introduced. Two single golfers enjoyed each other's company, and so it was ---they married. Now, the final ending to her name was complete! Their life revolved around the game of golf with their golf friends. Twice each year, they traveled to courses all over the United States. Helen and Jack spent winters in Sun City West, Arizona, playing golf, eventually choosing to build a home there to avoid the Illinois winters. There were many great trips to other countries, accompanied by their golfing buddies. One summer day in Quincy, Jack too, died suddenly of a heart attack.

Now, she had to make another choice. Selling their Quincy home, Helen moved into their house in Sun City West, Arizona. She lived there until she learned of a fancy-schmancy new retirement community that was being built – Grand View Terrace. Since Grand View Terrace was under construction, she was able to choose a fourth floor, corner unit overlooking a golf course - of course! Living in what we liked to call her penthouse, she spent many hours at bridge, swimming in the indoor pool and organizing a group of fun-loving gals getting together at dinner, calling the group, “The Happy Girls”! They had their own dinning room when singing their Happy Girls’ song and sipping wine that they brought in! Many a year this carried on, but one by one the Happy Girls lost a participant. So --- the time came for Helen to be near one of her daughters. It was decided she needed to be a Texan and she moved into an assisted living community in Dallas, Texas. Her last four years were spent in the care of loving caregivers who treated her as family. Many trips to the Simmons’ house and ponds made her so happy. Put a cold beer in her hand, sitting in a chair facing the ponds and she was in heaven. All holiday celebrations she attended in grand style at her daughter's or her granddaughter's home.

First and foremost: love, loyalty, generosity and endurance were Helen’s attributes for living life and she applied them all to her family in abundance. Throw in creativity. Two outstanding examples: a large desert glass rendition of a humming bird that hung over the dining room buffet and the most enduring - a long coffee table executed entirely of small tiles, an heirloom to this day.

She spread her wings and took flight after a great run with a family that loved and adored her. Helen's favorite place on earth was the Sun Valley, Idaho, mountains, and it's there that her family will hold a celebration of the Life and Times of Helen Bernice Banbury Tegan Lusk.

Her cremation will be in Dallas, followed by burial this summer in Filer, Idaho, right next to her sweetheart, Warren and close to where her story began.

This remarkable lady is survived by the following who loved her deeply: Daughter, Onie Simmons and husband, Ross, Dallas, Texas; daughter, Joyce Matlack and husband, John Van Every, Santa Cruz, California; granddaughter, Lorna Ehrenfried and husband, John, Kingsport, Tennessee; granddaughter, Desha Raatior and husband, Vid, Hilo, Hawaii; granddaughter, Tanya Simmons, Hailey and Ziggy, Dallas, Texas; grandson, Derek Staley and wife, Mindi, Santa Cruz, California; great granddaughter, Tegan Ehrenfried, Knoxville, Tennessee.; great granddaughter, Ellen Ehrenfried, Knoxville, Tennessee.; great grandson, Brody Staley, Santa Cruz, California; great granddaughter, Maddison Staley, Santa Cruz, California; great granddaughter, Keala Raatior, Hilo, Hawaii; and great grandson, Keoni Raatior, Hilo, Hawaii.

Memorial contributions, in Helen’s name, can be made to the American Heart Association.

Ted Dickey West Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas has charge of arrangements.