Helen Marie Walsh, proud lifelong Butte resident, died gracefully on July 15th, 2014. Helen was born to Doris (Reed) and William B. Van Duyne on October 30, 1929, in Butte, Montana. When Helen was a young girl her parents divorced and she was raised by her mother during the hardship of the Depression. When she was eight years old, her mother married Tony Van Nuland and her family moved to Georgetown Lake, where they lived at Southern Cross and her brother Jerry was born. She attended the country school there until they moved back to Butte where Helen went to the old Whittier school and graduated from Butte High School in 1947.
Helen married Leonard McLaughlin on June 29, 1952. Leonard and Helen had two children and were married for seven years until his death on January 26, 1960. Helen was an amazing single mom to her children while working a full time job, managing a house, making her own clothes, knitting doll clothes for her daughter, and being an active member of the Butte Junior League. She liked to be impeccably dressed and put together. She was a classy lady.
On Friday, September 13, 1968, Helen married Joe Walsh at St. Ann’s Church. Together Joe and Helen combined their families; Joe’s four children with Helen’s two, and had one more of their own. Helen took on the challenge of having her family multiply overnight and became the matriarch of her new blended bunch. She cooked countless holiday meals, counseled and nurtured children in every stage of their lives. She made all holidays and milestones special for everyone, never failing to keep the household running smoothly with her exceptional organizational skills. She was an excellent homemaker and sewed countless prom dresses, Halloween costumes, and knitted many a baby blanket. She was an active, involved grandma who showed up to various recitals, sporting events, baptisms, and to take care of newborns or whenever she was needed. Her creative outlet was in ceramics and she made a piece of art for every holiday. She loved to decorate for every occasion, which made her home a delight to visit. She enjoyed working in the yard, planting flowers, and tending to her rose garden. She was also an active longtime member of St. Ann’s Parish and a devoted member of the choir.
Helen worked for the Butte Miners Bank and then the Butte Telephone Company where she was asked to continue to work after she got married, which was unusual during that time. After Leonard’s death, she was hired as a secretary for Professor Don McGlashan at Montana School of Mines, where she worked for eight years and typed many theses for graduate students. She became close to those students and exchange students and invited them to her home for several holiday celebrations. Helen stayed at home to raise her kids until 1983 when she was hired by Butte Silver Bow to work in the Clerk and Recorder’s office. One of her favorite aspects of this job was that she was able to share her enthusiasm and love for Butte. Her family teased her that she was Butte’s biggest cheerleader. She then was given the position as Council Secretary for the Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners. Helen was very proud to be working in the courthouse and loved everyone for whom and with whom she worked. She was instrumental in the beginning stages of planning the 100th anniversary of the Courthouse and was recognized by Senator Max Baucus at the dedication ceremony for her part. Helen officially retired at the age of seventy-nine in 2009. Helen said she was born to be a secretary and thoroughly enjoyed every job she had.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents William B. Van Duyne, Doris Van Nuland and Tony Van Nuland and her brother, Jerry Van Nuland, her husbands Leonard McLaughlin and Joseph H. Walsh, sons Joe M. Walsh and Timothy Joseph Walsh and grandson Kevin Michael Kelly. Helen is survived by her children Norma Jean and Keith Kelly, Raylene Walsh, Stephen and Julie Walsh, Lynne and Paul Grant, David and Janne McLaughlin and Erin and Mike Horstmann, her grandchildren, Major Keith J. and Amy Kelly, Shannon and Conan Kelly, Eric and Taylor Walsh, Callie, Stephen and Meaghan Walsh, Ryan and Jared Walsh, Meghan and Shane Strozzi, Ian, Gavin and Katy McLaughlin, Timothy Reed, Lane and Lily Horstmann, and her great grandchildren Robert, Jacqulyn, Cassidy and Jessica Kelly, Jacob and Liam Tauscher, Sarah and Bridget Walsh, Chance Strozzi, and her niece, Jan Sutherland and family.
The family will receive friends Saturdayday, July 19, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave, Helena. The family will also receive friends beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a Vigil service to be held at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 20, 2014 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 2100 Farragut Ave in Butte. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 21st, at the Church. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery, 4700 Harrison Ave. A reception will be held in the church social center following the burial. Memorials in Helen’s name are suggested to Hospice of St. Peter’s 2475 Broadway Street Helena, Montana 59601, or an organization of the donor’s choice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Helen.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday July 19, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Family Receiving Friends
Beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday July 20, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Ave
Butte, Montana 59701
Vigil
7:00 p.m.
Sunday July 20, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Avenue
Butte, Montana 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Monday July 21, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Avenue
Butte, Montana 59701
Burial
immediately following Mass
Monday July 21, 2014
Holy Cross Cemetery
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday July 19, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Family Receiving Friends
Beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday July 20, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Ave
Butte, Montana 59701
Vigil
7:00 p.m.
Sunday July 20, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Avenue
Butte, Montana 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Monday July 21, 2014
St. Ann's Catholic Church
2100 Farragut Avenue
Butte, Montana 59701
Burial
immediately following Mass
Monday July 21, 2014
Holy Cross Cemetery
Butte, Montana 59701
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Tom, Amy, Morgan & Tara Mulholland says
We remember Helen as such a kind and gentle woman. She had the best smile and was always happy to hear from us when we visited Butte. On our last visit she and Joe just loved seeing our girls play with the cat and enjoyed sharing some old stories of Tom and Dave’s escapades. We also talked about Morgan tap dancing and Erin’s tap dance days.
You are all in our prayers and we wish you this Irish blessing:
May you see God’s light on the path ahead when the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear, even in your hour of sorrow, the gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness never turn your hardness to stone.
May you always remember when the shadows fall – You do not walk alone.
Lane Horstmann says
she was my grandma I loved her very very much for the time that I knew her , She was the best nicest person you could meet. she must have done a great job raising my mom Erin because she is the best mom any one could ask for. The age i’m making this message for her is 12 years of age. It is April 14th 2019. She died when I was 7 it was very hard because i have also lost my grandpa. for the short time that i knew him he was the absolute best and so was my grandma. I miss the both of them extremely i would give anything for them to be back. Also I’m Lane Horstmann if you were wondering I’m in the 6th grade and it kinda sucks but back to my grandparents. I love them dearly they came to all of my activities which we live in Denver so Butte to Denver is a long trek but it was worth it I’m sure. Every time I think about them I get all teary eyed. I have something very special from them. My grandma mage me her traditional yarn super soft blanket. Not too long ago i was snuggling with and i felt a tag so i looked and it said ” made with love, by grandma’ now that was unbearable because i didn’t know about it for a while and it made me cry the whole night anyway I loved them very much and I wanted to do this because i love them.
Love,
Lane
to grandma and grandpa
Jan van Nuland says
We have warm memories on Helen when she and Josheph hosted us In july 1995. The genealogy search of my parents Dirk van Nuland (died May 7th 2012) and Jopie (died August 28th 2014) arrived by coincident at the workdesk of Helen. My parents visited Butte in 1990 and became overwhelmed by the hospitality of Helen and Joseph. Helen took my parents to all the relatives in the Butte area.
Also when we (Jan van Nuland, my wife Thea van Kemenade and our small kids Annelies and Teun) visited Butte we became part of July 4th family gathering and parade manifestations. In 1995 we also were glad to meet Helen’s mother Doris van Nuland – Reed. It was amazing to see the face resemblance of her husband Anthony Peterson van Nuland with my fathers brother Petrus.
1995 is a long time ago and it is a pity we didn’t have the chance to revisit the USA in the time in between. We think with great gratitude about Helen and all the family whe were together during our stay! In due time we are planning a new visit to the USA and will surely do Montana also this time.
Love,
Jan van Nuland and Thea van Kemenade