Helen Louise Pedersen

Helen was the third of five children born to Clara (Moyer) Kaylor and Frank Kaylor on March 29, 1913, in a Pennsylvania Dutch community of Naperville, Illinois. Sisters Edna and Ruth, one brother, Frank, and daughter, Sharon Louise Pedersen, preceded her in death. Helen is survived by her younger brother, Oliver Kaylor, residing in Chetek, Wisconsin; her children, Erlan (Lee) Pedersen (Mali) of Salem, Oregon, and Harriet Berg (Robert) of Oak Harbor, Washington; five grandchildren, Jason Robert Berg of Salem, Oregon, Bethany Rachelle Hopkins (Cameron) of Coupeville, Washington, Megan Louisa Rose (Justin) of Coupeville, Washington, and Jet Lee Pedersen and Jon KR Pedersen of Salem, Oregon; six great grandchildren, Isaac Robert Rose and Naosha Elli Rose of Coupeville, Washington, and Calysta Helen Berg, Isaiah Payne, Tyler Hoorn and Kyle Hoorn all of Santa Cruz, California, and her bosom buddy, Elayne Larsen, of Oak Harbor, Washington.

Helen’s family moved to Barron County, Wisconsin to farm while she was a young child. While her two sisters were “little ladies” and never strayed from duties in the home, Helen most liked helping her Dad in the barn and riding the family pony. When her older sister, Edna, caught scarlet fever, Helen volunteered to sleep with her and help care for her . . . and never got sick herself.

After graduating from 8th grade, Helen declared herself done with school and later, at the ripe age of nearly 16, convinced her folks to let her move out and take a job at the Yellow Lodge, a restaurant and resort located a few miles from home and situated on Lake Chetek. While there, she learned to make amazing pie crust and berry pies that throughout her life she put together without aid of any recipe. She also tried smoking. After one cigarette, she thought she might like it and decided she better not take up the habit!

In October 1978, Helen moved to Oak Harbor, Washington to be nearer to her first two grandchildren, Jason and Bethany, and later arrival, Megan, and became the first resident of the Chelsee Apartments. She continued her lifelong passion of singing in a choir by joining the choir at First Reformed Church, Oak Harbor, Washington, which she continued to sing in until almost age 96.

Helen would do anything for her kids. She purchased her son, Lee, his first car, a Mustang and he has been a muscle car collector ever since. She also purchased a photography course for Lee that led to his early career as a successful Army combat photographer. While living in Oak Harbor, Helen took great joy in babysitting her local grandchildren two days each week. They were showered with her loving care and wonderful cooking including many of those amazing pies. She decided to “retire” from babysitting when she turned 75 and Megan had started 1st grade.

Helen possessed a cheerful, playful, loving heart that never counted the cost, withheld affection or doubted her eternal destination. Although Helen hated to read, she faithfully read her bible every morning while enjoying coffee and toast. In the midst of coping with an abusive, troubled 23 year marriage, a life verse she shared with her then young daughter, Harriet, was Romans 8:28 . . . And we know all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at the First Reformed Church, Oak Harbor, Washington on Monday, May 21, at 3:00 p.m. with the Reverend Jon Brown officiating. Memorial remembrances may be made to the First Reformed Church Choir Fund. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burley Funeral Chapel where friends and family may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign the guest book and leave memories for the family.