2 Timothy 4:7
Helen Henrietta Turnquist died early in the morning on Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019 surrounded by the family who adored her – those present and those far away. She was born on the family farm in northeastern Montana on September 13, 1919, the sixth of Andy and Hazel Armstrong’s nine children. She was named for her mother’s best friend/sister-in-law and her maternal grandmother. She lived on the farm until she was 10 when her family moved to Glasgow Montana where she graduated from high school in 1936.
In 1940 she moved to Cut Bank, Montana where she met Carl Turnquist. They were married on May 31, 1941, and the celebration of a lifetime began. Carl’s career with what was eventually Exxon moved the two of them every 2-4 years until Carl’s retirement in 1977. Along the journey, they welcomed three children: Karen in 1942, John in 1944 and Mary Helen in 1949. In 1970, Helen returned to the workforce to keep busy. She began working in the office of a local department store, rising to Office Manager, and was awarded the honor of Employee of the Year for the chain of stores in 1975. Together, Carl and Helen cared for her father, first in Glasgow, and finally in Houston until Andy’s death in 1979.
In 1980 they traveled to Island Park, Idaho for the third annual Armstrong Family Reunion. This little piece of heaven became their home away from home – first a weekend getaway, finally a summer retreat. The Family Reunion continues to this day, hosted by grandchildren and attended by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and dozens and dozens of cousins!
Helen’s life was faith-filled. She sang hymns joyfully until her last Sunday in worship and walked down the aisle to receive communion, head held high. She prayed with complete trust and devotion to her Lord and Creator. She knew exactly what was waiting for her after her death; she believed it to the core of her soul. She was Presbyterian at the end – Lutheran almost all of her life – Christian Church as a child. She loved the sacred music of the church and often said that music could say what words could not.
Following Carl’s death in 1993, she began her Giving Project. She worked ten hours a day making counted cross stitch Christmas stockings, framed pictures, sweatshirts and other items. She crocheted baby afghans and afghans for grownups. She was devoted to the R.S.V.P. Handcrafters Group in Bozeman, Montana and donated many crocheted doilies, pillow cases, and Christmas ornaments to their cause. The gift shop kindly held back many of them for Mary Helen to purchase when she traveled to Bozeman.
Full disclosure. She did not work on her Giving Project from early April to late October except when the St. Louis Cardinals had a day off. She was passionately obsessive about her St. Louis Cardinals. She loved them when they won, and she loved them when they didn’t. A truer more committed fan never walked the planet.
But her deepest devotion rested on her family. She was the last surviving member of her sibling generation, including spouses. She taught all of us that nothing should ever get in the way of the expression of love to every member of the family – whether by birth, marriage, or simply the blessing of being connected to family by friendship. Her hugs were of gold medal quality. The last words spoken to her while she was awake were “I love you.” The last words returned by her were “I love you.” Two granddaughters keeping vigil with their Grammie summed it up in three words. I love you.
Preceding her in death are her husband Carl, her parents Hazel and Andy, her brothers By (Florence), Jack (Ruth), Bert (Florence) and Bill (Nicky) and her sisters Did (Duane Vogler), Billie (Paul Hallet), Margory McDonald and Betty (Roy Hawley). Her most recent loss was the death of her oldest child, Karen Hall on December 1, 2018.
Remembering her well are her son John Turnquist (Kathy) and daughter Mary Helen Mitchell (Tom), her grandchildren Kirstin Chapman (Jeff), Jennifer Sample (Mike), Keely Elwood (Rich), Andy Hall, Kathleen Wyant (Jeff), Eric Turnquist (Melissa) Erin Loney (Chris), Josh Turnquist (Nicole), Heather Mitchell-Buck (Terry Buck) Amy Love (John Meadows) and Micah Turnquist (Kelly). Carrying on her memory with the joy that only children can bring are her great grandchildren: Henry and Joel Chapman, Austin Sample, Nathan, Matthew and Claire Lowry, Oliver and Bergen Hall, Michael and Jonathon Skinner, Carolyn and CJ Turnquist, Eleanor Turnquist, Wesley and Emmett Turnquist, Shelton and Parker Elwood, Collin Tyndall, Reagan Loney, and Stephen and Hazel Meadows. Happy to share her legacy are 21 nieces and nephews, 43 great nieces and nephews, 54 great great nieces and nephews, AND 7 great great great nieces and nephews. Also surviving her is Karen’s beloved friend Marion Paulis.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church 3003 Northland Drive Austin TX 78757 on Saturday, June 1, at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow.
If you would like to honor her life with a donation, please consider R.S.V.P. Handcrafters, Bozeman Senior Center, 807 North Tracy Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715 or a charity of your choice.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Matthew 25:23
