Helen Porter DeWolf-Hall, 92

Helen Porter DeWolf-Hall, 92, resident of Coeur d’Alene, passed away April 7, 2013.

Helen was born in Victor on May 15, 1920, to Job Bailey Porter and Emma Alice Teague Porter. She was just what her sister Vera wanted — a baby sister. Vera was only able to enjoy her baby sister three months as she passed away Aug. 19, 1920, after surgery.

Helen was raised as an only child on a ranch west of Victor. Since there were no children nearby her playmates were horses. She learned to ride at the age of 3. Her mother did not approve, but hired men and a bachelor neighbor watched closely and she made it through the years without an accident.

When it was time to go to school, her father took her by car, buggy and sleigh. When she was older she rode a horse to school every fall and spring. When she graduated from high school her father estimated he had traveled enough miles taking her to school to go around the world.

After graduating from high school she attended the L.D.S. Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. At that time jobs were hard to find. Most businesses would not hire an inexperienced 18-year-old girl. After completing her training she returned to Victor. She became acquainted with Hobart DeWolf from Jackson, Wyo., but they did not become interested in each other until the year of 1940. After a year of courtship they were married July 25, 1941, and Helen moved to Jackson where she and Hobart lived until 1942. World War II was on so they moved to Salt Lake City. Hobart went to work in Wendover, Utah, and worked as an assistant bookkeeper for a contractor who was building an airfield. Helen remained in Salt Lake and went to work as a secretary for the 9th Service Command in Fort Douglas, Utah.

In 1943 Hobart went into the U.S. Navy and was overseas until the fall of 1945. Helen quit her job upon his return so they could spend some time with their parents. They returned to Salt Lake in late November 1945 and Helen was asked to return to her job in Fort Douglas. She continued to work until January 1948 when she and Hobart decided to move back to Jackson. During the years 1948 to 1975 Helen worked for the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service and Farmers Home Administration under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She retired in 1975 and moved to Coeur d’Alene.

During her years of service with the U.S. Government she was awarded a Letter of Commendation for work beyond her line of duty; A Certificate of Appreciation for sustained and consistently high quality performance beyond her job duty; Certificate of Merit for performing substantially and exceeding the requirements of her position and Certificate of Merit for demonstrated above average interest and enthusiasm in presenting ideas and suggestions of methods of improvement of operations.

Helen and Hobart enjoyed their retirement years in Coeur d’Alene by doing many activities and acquiring many friends. On July 25, 1991, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with relatives and friends. They attended the Coeur d’Alene Methodist Church during 1975 until the time of Hobart’s death on Dec. 19, 1993. Helen and Hobart did not have children or many relatives, so friends were the ones they relied upon.

After Hobart’s death, Helen took up dancing at the Senior Center in Coeur d’Alene. She acquired five girls who would become “Daughters” to her during the years following Hobart’s death. From 1993 until late in 1998 Helen’s activity with Eastern Star, the Rambling Rovers and the five girls (Kimberly Bechman, Cheryl Harriman, Joyce Davis, Diane Conrad and Mary Finlay) absorbed much of her time.

In 1998, following the death of Helen Hall, Norman Burt invited Bob Hall and Helen DeWolf to his and Elsa Burt’s home for a dinner and cards. That led to a whirlwind courtship and marriage on Valentine’s Day in 1999. Norm Burt gave the bride away, Elsa was Helen’s Matron of Honor, the five girls were Helen’s attendants, and Bob’s boys (Gary, Roger and Merle) plus two of Bob’s best friends (Bob Singleton and Jerry Spreen) were paired with the girls. Bob’s brother Gale came from Bakersfield, Calif., to be Bob’s Best Man.

There followed 10 years of travel, dancing, pinochle, Bob getting to meet Helen’s co-workers and Helen assuming the position of mother and grandmother to Bob’s family. They made several trips to Salt Lake City and Bakersfield, and expanded that to include a trip to the East Coast on one occasion. Time was spent researching some of Bob’s family history in North Carolina and visiting a wide variety of sights along the way.

November 2011, following a minor stroke, therapy and recovery, and subsequent loss of her ability to converse, Helen moved into Coeur d’Alene Nursing Homes. After a few weeks of adjustment, she accepted that as her home. Bob would see her daily and she seemed quite happy there. The staff were willing partners and between them and Hospice, Helen received more than adequate care. She participated in many activities and occasionally Bob would take her out to visit and share in meals with friends. Her LDS sisters, Tina Hough and Crystal Gers, called on her regularly and were a large part of her life.

Helen was laid to rest next to her first husband, Hobart DeWolf, on Friday, April 12, 2013, at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Please visit Helen’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.

“I hope I was the sort of friend that you were to me;

I hope I was the help that you’ve been always glad to be;

I hope I meant as much to you each minute of the day,

As you meant old friends of mine, to me along the way.

I hope that in my lifetime I did repay

A portion of the gladness you’ve given along my way,

And, could I have one wish it would be,

I’d like to have been the sort of friend that you have been to me.

Thank you for being my friend.” — Helen