Helen K Werner

Helen Luchs was born on December 2, 1921 to Henry Luchs and Mary Kiser Luchs in Milwaukie, Oregon. Helen was the fourth child born out of twelve siblings. Starting with the oldest: Anna, John, Emil, Katherine, Helen, Henry, Marguerite*, Marie, Nellie*, William*, Dolly*, and Ruth*. (*surviving siblings) Henry and Mary owned and operated the Midway Dairy on 28 acres know as Arden Park in Milwaukie. There was a large orchard of fruit trees, a grape patch, large vegetable garden, acres of corn, a pond, and beautiful flower garden. The six bedroom house and milk house (latter turned in to a duplex) is still in existence. The family worked hard on the farm and the children walked about a mile to school and they enjoyed playing softball with neighbors on the farm when time allowed.

Helen and Harry Werner were married December 5, 1939 and both families were of Swiss decedents. They lived in several homes in the Milwaukie area and had a hatchery. Their first child Harry JR, nick names; Hank or Howie was born May 1941. In 1952 they settled in Beaverton on a farm of 48 acres and enlarged their chicken business and raised some cattle and farmed the land. Harry JR created a blue print of a house in school which Harry and Helen used to build their new home; with help of other family members which was not uncommon in those days. Prior to the completion of their new home their second child Mary was born on March 1954.

Helen enjoyed working in her beautiful flower beds and garden. In her early years she canned her harvest from the garden and fruit trees, and made tasty apple pies and strawberry shortcake. She had a love for animals. They always had several dogs and numerous cats, and over the years she enjoyed rabbits, doves, pigeons, ducks, parakeets, ponies and a horse. If you came over during the late mornings you could expect to catch her in the chicken house gathering eggs or in the basement kenneling (sizing & inspecting) the eggs for the next shipment; while Harry made the deliveries to the stores, farmed the ground, made mash, and feed chickens. Helen was always a very busy person. The only time you would catch her relaxing was in the evening after the dinner dishes were done; reading her paper and watching her favorite shows Mayberry, Father Knows Best, or I Love Lucy. Helen embroidered her own dining room table cloth, bed spread and various doilies. In the sixties they got out of the chicken business and went into the sanitary business. They also invested in rentals and worked hard to keep up their investments. In the late seventies they sold their sanitary business. Helen’s husband Harry passed away August 10, 2004.

Harry JR had four sons named David, John, Stacy, and Christopher which Helen enjoyed having them come to visit frequently when they were younger until Harry and his wife divorced. Harry is now married to a wonderful lady Lera and they reside out of state. Howie remembers how his Mother enjoyed watching Billy Graham.

Helen on numerous occasions opened her house to ones who needed a place to live until they were able to find a place of their own. Helen baby set for Janet when she worked nights and enjoyed taking care of Kelli. Growing up Kelli was at Helen’s a lot and all the extended family knew her as just another member of the family. At the time Kelli was age 18 months through high school and she called Helen ‘Mom’, because Mary did. Kelli now has two children Christopher and Jadyn, and a granddaughter Haile, who is Christopher’s daughter.

Mary has two children Robert and Shannon. Growing up they lived next door to Grandma. Grandma babysat Robert and Shannon and sometimes drove them to school and activities, while mom was at work. She was always involved in their Easter, Thanks Giving, and Christmas Holidays and birthdays. When Mary wasn’t able to get something for the children they knew they could ask Grandma. During the weekend when Mary found the children were missing, she knew they had snuck down to see Grandma.

In her later years Helen enjoyed watching the sport channel and talked about the games frequently on the phone with Marie and Nellie. The last few years Dolly came over and they watched the games together. She also enjoyed the game shows Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and The Price is Right.

Shannon took care of her Grandma with her mother’s assistance in 2011. Shannon has a daughter Latisha who sat next to GG’s (Great Grandma) recliner as they enjoyed watching cartoons together.

Robert has been married to Mari about four years. The last sixteen months of Helen’s life they lived with Grandma and cared for her. On Friday, April 5th Helen past a way of natural causes and Robert, and Dolly were at her side when she departed.