Helmi Victoria (Sandholm) Holm, 89

Helmi Victoria (Sandholm) Holm left us on Friday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2010. She was 89 and her heart had been failing for many years.

Hospice has been involved with her care for the past 14 months.

Helmi and her husband Matti were married for more than 55 years when Matti passed away in 1997. We know they are happy together once again.

John Holm is the eldest of Helmi and Matti's children. Doreen (Holm) Russell is the middle child. Susan (Holm) Doyle is the youngest. Helmi left behind a very loving caregiver daughter-in-law Dottie, along with sons-in-law Bill Doyle and Tommy Russell. Helmi's grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her hugs and kisses.

Helmi and Matti were both born of Finnish emigrant parents in Jersey City, N.J., during the early 20th century. During the Great Depression Helmi helped the family income doing seamstress work and ironing clothes alongside her mother, Hilma.

Working to improve her community was very high on Helmi's lifetime agenda.

While her family was young she was active in several PTA groups and was awarded the PTA Lifetime Honor award. She and her husband worked with the Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Kagel Canyon Civic Association and Kagel Canyon Women's Club. For many years she worked on the Los Angeles County Election Board serving as Inspector much of that time. Later, while in Atascadero, Calif., she was active with the Santa Margarita Senior Citizen group.

Helmi was a quiet person, but often served these organizations as secretary or treasurer, refusing to accept the positions of spokesperson or president due to her quiet demeanor.

There were also years spent as a bookkeeper and cafeteria worker at schools. For relaxation Helmi liked to knit, crochet, read and tend her garden. While in California she was a big Dodger fan and became a Mariner fan while in Idaho. "Sporty things" is what she liked to watch on television - especially football. She was currently involved in watching the World Series.

In 1979 Helmi and Matti moved from Kagel Canyon to Atascadero.

Then after Matti's death Helmi moved to Idaho in 1998. In 2005 she moved in with John and Dottie at their rural Priest River home and enjoyed watching the wild animals highlighted one day by seeing a bear amble around outside the house. She often referred to this home with John and Dottie as "her little piece of Heaven."

Helmi added such sparkle to our lives and she was so very brave and had a great sense of humor. We miss her!

Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.