Helen Stuart May Stonebrink

Helen Stuart May was born August 4, 1923 to Fred and Anna May in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Helen had fond memories of her childhood at the Mystic Ranch, including many adventures with her two big sisters, Frances & Dorothy. When she was almost five the family moved closer to Steamboat when her Dad bought, at auction, the ranch alongside the Elk River in Mad Creek Canyon. Soon he purchased the S - S brand and the name was shared by the ranch. A new brother, Bill, joined the family immediately and a second brother, Jack, completed the family in 1930. Helen rode her horse to the Fly Gulch school house each day for summer school, and without her knowledge, her Dad followed on the first day. He realized that Helen was not tall enough to easily open and close the gates so he created a step at each gate to make it easier for her. The children were taught by their parents during the winter. Helen was “Winter Carnival Queen” in 1940. The prize for “queen” was a trip to the World’s Fair in California and her sisters and brother in law joined her for the trip. Helen said, “we had such a great time!” Helen met her husband to be, Clyde Stonebrink, at a New Year’s party in 1940. Helen was 16 and Clyde was her first boyfriend. Clyde took her to her Junior Prom that spring and then went away to World War II. He was gone until 1945. Helen graduated as salutatorian from Steamboat Springs High School in 1941. She attended CSU, known as Colorado A & M, in Fort Collins, Arizona State and graduated from UNC, known as the College of Education, in Greeley in 1945. She joined her sister, Dorothy, in Greensboro, NC where she worked as an O.T. in a convalescent training program for the returning soldiers. Helen returned to Colorado and married Clyde Stonebrink, July 10, 1946. They bought two homesteads and ranched together on Cow Creek, about 17 miles west of Steamboat. In 1961, Clyde said he needed to live in a milder climate so they sold the ranch and moved to Enterprise, Oregon where Clyde had family. They bought a ranch, and after camping in a one room cabin for six months, the old farm house was fixed up and Helen said it was the prettiest home I’ve ever had. They bought the Hammond Place in 1971 and moved closer to Enterprise. She lost her beloved husband in the Fall, 2000. In the Spring of 2002, Aunt Helen moved to Fruita, Colorado to be closer to her sister and brother. Helen was a long time member of PEO and was a member of the Rebekah’s. Helen went home to the Lord and joined her husband and four siblings on November 20, 2014. Helen was proud to represent the State of Oregon at The White House and meet President Ronald Reagan. Helen had a tremendous “Love of the Land,” Love of her Country”, and Clyde & Helen together a “Love for each other.” She was an Aunt to well over 200 nieces & nephews, including great, great-great, and several great, great, great, spanning four generations.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fruita Faith Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Mesa University Clyde & Helen Stonebrink Scholarship or donate online to the P.E.O.