Helen L. Orsello, age 95, of Helena

Helen Laura Burtch Orsello

On the sunny afternoon of January 14, 2022,  and surrounded by her children, Helen gained her angel wings and passed at the age of 95 1/2, leaving behind a life very well lived.

Helen Burtch was born at home on July 13, 1926 to Mabel and Gilbert Burtch, who had come west from Michigan and homesteaded on a small farm on the North Fork of Deep Creek at the base of Mount Baldy in Broadwater County, Montana.  She joined two older brothers and a sister and was followed by her younger brother several years later.

Times were hard and money was tight but Helen always reminisced about the wonderful memories of helping out on the farm, riding horses with her brothers, and exploring the mountains which began her life-long love of the outdoors.  Her brother used to say that she could outride and outshoot any boy in the county!

Helen’s early education started in a one room schoolhouse attended by the local farm children.  In the winter, they often made the snowy mile trek all piled on the back of Chub, the family work horse.  A very avid learner, she then completed her middle and high school in Townsend, where she graduated in 1944 as Salutatorian of her class.

With diploma in hand, she joined her older sister, Mary, in the “big city” of Helena.  She was hired as a secretary at the Internal Revenue Service and would work there off and on over the years but caring for her family was her most important endeavor.

She married her love, William “Bill” Orsello,  on October 10, 1950 and by 1961, they had welcomed five children into their family.  Motherhood kept her very busy along with supporting her husband in the building of his business, Mount Helena Distributing.  She always kept the home fires burning and provided a loving home for her family and a welcoming place for all who visited.

As empty-nesters, she and Bill sold their business and moved to the valley area and built a home and started the Central Valley Market on York Road in 1977.  After its sale in the early ’80’s, they filled their time traveling to visit children, exploring National Parks and historical sites, camping with the Good Sam’s travel group, and they never tired of car rides exploring the wonders of Montana.

She and Bill enjoyed almost 64 years of marriage and she provided loving support to him as his health declined and he passed just shy of 91 years old in 2014.  She bravely went on and lived independently in her own home until shortly before her passing.  In her 90’s, she embraced the Ipad and learned how to research, email, face-time, online banking and she even put “google” and “you-tube” to good use to tackle home repairs!  Sharp as a tack until her passing, everyone was awed by her fountain of knowledge regarding historical events and her keen observations and perspectives gained through her lifetime of experience.

In her later years,  Helen loved to stay close to home and she was always available for a call or visit from her family.  Her hobbies included reading, gardening, painting, and genealogy.  She taught herself oil painting in her 60’s and her lovely paintings grace her children and grandchildren’s homes. She never wanted to be in the spotlight and instead took genuine pleasure in supporting everyone’s successes and dreams while also being that loving shoulder when times were troubled.  The words that people often used to describe her were kind, caring, humble, compassionate, and intelligent and they couldn’t be more fitting for the mark she made during this life.  She was the heart of our family and most importantly, the “wind beneath our wings”.

Helen was proceeded in death by her husband, William, her parents Mabel and Gilbert Burtch, siblings and in-laws, John and Vera Burtch, Mary and Harry Bryson, Harold Burtch, and Beverly Burtch, son-in-law, Price McCreary and granddaughter in law, Gabby Orsello as well as many cherished extended family and friends.

A loving Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Helen is survived by daughter Kathleen Orsello and her sons, Rob (Lea) Tobin and Nate (Jen) Tobin and children Jack, Mollie and Joe; Son Bill (Jan) Orsello, and son Sam; Daughter Linda (Joe) Orsello- Mucci, and children, Nico and Katie; Daughter Tricia Orsello McCreary, and Son Robert (Teresa) Orsello and his children, Stephanie and Anthony (Sheryl) Orsello and children Chase, Cameron and Madison.  She is also survived by her younger brother, Charles Burtch of Seattle, and her many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the kind and caring staff at Beehive Homes for their support in the final weeks as well as St Peter’s Hospice and Palliative Care for their compassionate care.  A private family service will be held at a later date and her ashes will be buried along with her husband at the VA Cemetery at Fort Harrison, MT.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Helena Food Share to provide food to local families in need.

Service Schedule

Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.

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