Helen Frances Russ

They moved to Minneapolis when Helen was six weeks old. She graduated from Washburn High School, the University of MN, and the MN School of Business.

While visiting an aunt’s family at their summer cabin in Sherwood Forest, MD, she met Myron Russ, a young Naval officer who was stationed at nearby Annapolis. They were married after the war February 16, 1946, and made their first home in Denver, CO. Helen pursued a part-time secretarial career for many years while raising four wonderful, healthy children, her proudest accomplishment. Helen was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest started school.

Myron’s 33-year engineering career with General Electric took them to several locations. After living for 15 years in Richland and Kennewick, WA, he transferred to San Jose, CA where they designed and built a home in nearby Los Gatos. After 11 years in San Jose, they relocated to Tokyo, Japan for 3 years. GE then sent him to Alhambra, CA, and retirement too them back to San Jose, where they lived at The Villages for 19 years, active in many clubs and activities. They moved to the Rogue Valley Manor in 1999, and enjoyed volunteering and other Manor activities until Myron passed away in 2004. They had been married for 58 wonderful years. Helen still volunteered at The Manor and Orchard Hill School. Her role as a Fairy Godmother gave her great joy. She was Volunteer of the month for Jackson County in August 2004.

Helen and Myron were world travelers and made many travel logs, which they shared with Manorites. Amateur photographer, accomplished knitter, avid reader, swimmer, choral singer, crossword puzzle addict, ikebana flower arranger, figure skater in younger days, she made a good home for the family of six wherever they lived. Helen loved her family and her kitty cat companion, Honeybun.

She is survived by three sons: Rusty (Jan), Seattle, WA; Dave (Kathleen), Los Gatos, CA; and Gordon (Cheryl) Tupelo, MS; and daughter Holly (Harold), Tacoma, WA. She was the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and Aunt to 4 nieces and 4 nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Manor Transportation Fund or the Fairy Godmothers’ Scholarship Fund.