Helen P. Sowre, age 91, passed away at Beehive Homes of Helena on March 13th, at the age of 91. She was born in Horton, Kansas on January 2nd, 1929 to William Paul King and Helen Grace (Powell) King.
Helen’s mother worked at a movie theater, playing the piano for the old movies. When Helen was 14, her mother passed away, and Helen came to Missoula, Montana, to live with her uncle and aunt, Ken and Flora Powell. Her older brother, Donald George King, was in the Navy.
Helen graduated from the Missoula County High School in 1946. At the age of 17, she began work as an operator for Montana State Telephone Company. For 23 years she worked as a trainer for new operators, then become a chief for the company in Missoula. She moved to Helena to work in labor relations for the telephone company. She worked an additional 41 years for a different phone company.
Helen married Robert Harry Sowre on July 1st, 1957, in Polson, Montana. They were married 47 years; Robert passed away March 9th, 2004.
Helen loved to read books with a cat on her lap, as cats were very special to her. She enjoyed doing all kinds of crafts; one of the crafts she enjoyed most was making cards with rubber stamps. Her cards are a treasure to those who received them.
Robert and Helen built a cabin at Flathead Lake in Polson and spent their summers there. Helen was the happiest when she was at the cabin.
Helen belonged to the Red Hats and was a president of Soroptomist.
In 1988, Helen and Robert went to Sweden with her bother Don. Don was a scout for the Chicago Bears Football Team. It was a thrill for them to travel with the team, and Helen enjoyed watching them play.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Evie King.
Helen is survived by her stepdaughter, Diana Smith of Otis, Oregon, and her nephews: Ken (Peggy) King, Doug (Tuara) King, Patrick (Rellie) King, and several friends.
The family would like to give special thanks to Amber and the staff at Beehive Homes #16 for the good care Helen received during the five years she lived there.
No service is planned. Donations can be made to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society at 2112 E. Custer Ave, Helena Montana, in memory of Helen and all the cats she loved.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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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Sandi Benson says
A beautiful person and friend. I truly enjoyed every minute I spent with you. May you be at peace my friend. ‘God Bless’
Margarette Archibald says
A great lady and good friend.
Mike and Don
Florence Armagost says
The world has lost a beautiful person and sweet lady who is now a free soul.
Germaine & Don Trenary says
Our condolences. We lost touch with Helen in recent years, so sorry to hear of her passing.
Don and Germaine Trenary
Michaeleen Lentz Crosier says
My memory of Mrs. Sowre began in 1966. I was two weeks from graduating at Sentinel High in Missoula. My advisor recommended that I apply for a job at Mountain States Tel and Tel, as it was named at the time. Nervously, I sat right next to Mrs. Sowre for the application “test”, which consisted of a long list of numbers. We were required to flip the page over and write the numbers by memory. That led to a thirty year career with Mrs. Sowre being my guiding light for most of those years. She was always a gentle soul, however, you always knew it if you “messed” up. Rest in PEACE, Dear Lady.