Helen Frank Strain

Helen F. Strain passed away on March 22, 2022, at her home in Beaverton, OR at the age of 102 years. She was born on December 21, 1919, in the small town of Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada to George Frank and Elizabeth Derr. The family moved to Colorado when she was 5 and then to Oregon in 1927, settling in the Portland area where her father operated a garbage collection business. She married Murl Strain in December 1938. After the war the family moved to Hermiston where Murl worked as a security guard, then a fireman at the Umatilla Army Depot until he retired in the 1970’s. In 1980, they moved to Beaverton to be closer to family.

Having come of age during the depression of the 1930’s and then enduring the hardships of WW II, Helen learned the value of economizing, hard work, and determination. She lived simply and was very hesitant to spend money on herself but was generous with family members. Helen was the primary caregiver for Murl after he suffered a stroke and she resolved to live independently in her own home for the rest of her days, much to the consternation of her doctor and family, but was able to do so with the help of family members and a close friend. Her driver’s license was suspended at age 96 for health reasons and she initially reconciled herself to this, although some months later she decided to resume driving and, after several tests and driving lessons, she was issued a new license at age 98. A few days later, she decided on her own to stop driving and the family breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Helen was very devoted to her close relatives and liked to keep in touch with those living in other areas. Murl & Helen installed a woodburning cookstove in their Beaverton home and she used it for baking multiple loaves of bread at a time, for canning fruits and vegetables and for heat. She also enjoyed making krautbrook, reading, sewing, fishing & camping.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Arthur Rossman, Emma Ruff, George Rossman, Lydia Fowler, and Herbert Frank. She is survived by daughters Kaaren Brodesser, Boise, ID, and Pat Van Schoiack, Beaverton, OR, and 5 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on April 15, 2022 at Pegg, Paxson and Springer Funeral Chapel in Beaverton with interment at Willamette National Cemetery. Viewing will be on Thursday, April 14, from 3 – 5 PM. Contributions in remembrance of Helen may be made to the charity of your choice.