Helen Larson-Martin, 88

Jan. 3, 1927 - July 3, 2015

Helen Larson-Martin was born as Helen Lucille Belden on Jan. 3, 1927, with a love of the saddle, spurs and the next round-up. Her ability to whistle a good tune filled any room with happiness and it mirrored the joy given in her daily Bible readings. She treasured her weathered, highlighted, marked and tattered Bible as it accentuated her journey of biblical wisdom. She shared her most loved scripture with those she felt needed her help and His wisdom. With her oldest son and daughter at her side, Helen died in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on July 3, 2015. At her request, she was honored and buried in a private family ceremony at Mountainview Cemetery in Dillon, Mont.

She married Clifford Lewis Proctor and they shared their love of horses while tending race horses and participating in roping and varied horse-related competitions. While married to Cliff, there were three children born; Diana, Norman and Clyde.

As a young bride, Cliff and Helen were employees of the Bear Paw Dude Ranch in Wyoming where she worked for the Jack Hyler family. During her years at the ranch, she came in contact with many interesting people to include a 14-year-old Steven Forbes and the J. D. Rockefeller family.

When her daytime household chores were done, she thrilled the adrenalin rush of her horse exploding full speed through a chute in calf-roping competitions. She was known for her guts and gusto and was featured in the advertising campaign for the Northwest Orient Airlines at a time when the vacation exodus to the west was the must-see end-destination. Her image; lariat arched in a calculated swing, hair flowing in the wind, eyes alive with excitement, her body leaning forward into the saddle, rein hand urging her horse faster, dust puffed up by the speed of each hoof print; this all raced into a nationwide advertisement seen on postcards and posters as a lure to see Helen as the "Annie Oakley" of the "wild west rodeo."

She then married Tom Larson where she again was able to live her life's dream when they owned the Triple Ranch Cattle Company. At this time, she was active in the Republican Women's Association, the Extension Homemaker's organization and was expressly intuned to the local 4-H organization. As a champion of their cause, she isolated the need and then launched the building of the 4-H Building at the Southwest Montana Fairgrounds in Dillon.

Her family grew to include Cora, Lance and Cody.

Cow camp was any child's dream. Grandmother Helen would gather up her grandkids where memory-deserving activities were created such as taffy-pulling and frog-jumping contests. There was no need for a television because the days were filled with fishing, exploring nature and the simplicity of bird watching while the nighttime filled with stories, reading, puzzles and lots of laughter!

Sadly, her husband, Tom, passed in December 1985. He died in the saddle as he rounded up the cows to bring them to the home ranch for the winter.

To add to her list of adventures, Helen participated in a wagon train and a cattle drive. In 1989, she and her chuckwagon were part of the Montana Centennial Wagon Train that traveled from Bannack (Montana's first territorial capitol) to Helena (Montana's current capitol). Helen made many friends with whom she remained friends until her passing. On the final leg of this drive and while parading through Helena, she dressed her granddaughters in period clothing and jokingly placed a canvas sign on each side of her wagon advertising, "Mail Order Brides." As fate would twist a mirth-filled karma, this very sign came to be posted, unbeknownst to her, on her wedding day to Douglas Martin.

The second cattle drive was the Centennial Cattle Drive originating in Roundup, Mont.,with a herd of 10,000 cows. This herd followed the original 1889 cattle route that originated in Roundup and ended in Billings, Mont. Helen was quoted as saying, "If I could move 3,000 head (as was often done on their ranch) then, I can help move 10,000." Her wagon was stockpiled with essential supplies necessary to prepare chuckwagon breakfasts, lunches and suppers for the 40 outriders who accompanied the herd. The stories around the nighttime campfires were funny, sometimes musical, but always memorable.

As a person who said, "I never was much for fur or diamonds - I would rather have had a pair of spurs." Helen did receive a diamond when she married Douglas Martin. With her granddaughters as her bridesmaids, her "Mail Order Brides" sign was hung where she was unable to see the sign and the laughter that broke out during the ceremony started this marriage with the foundation of happiness and joy.

Helen and Doug had a small ranch outside Dillon and spent their time traveling as part of the Holiday Ramblers Motorhome group. She had a desire to see life outside saddles, spurs and cattle. With their mobile home they took a fanciful approach to travel; go where their whim defined. They wintered in Arizona where they met other fellow travelers and more lifelong friends. Helen and Doug later moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, where they purchased a home in a retirement village.

After Doug's passing, Helen moved to Arizona and became part of the beautiful Fellowship Square, Historic Mesa family where she was able to be closer to family. She enjoyed RFD-TV because vicariously she remained in ranch life. Visiting with family was precious, making new friends at fellowship, reading her Bible and other works, doing crossword puzzles and writing poetry filled her days. Helen was a gifted and published cowboy poet.

Helen has 17 grandchildren: (Diana and Bruce Davis) Todd, Siri and Kari; (Cora and Randy Robinson) Wayne and Cory; (Norman and Vicki Proctor) Jeremy, Allison, Molly and Hope; (Clyde Proctor) Brandt, (Lance and Debbie Larson) Marissa, Breanna and Joshua; (Cody and Tom Mitchell) Kynda, Samantha, Pete and John.

Her nine great-grandchildren were especially loved. The "greats" as she called them are: (Jeremy and Jennifer Proctor) Lily, Justin, Natalie; (Siri and Jeffrey Shoemaker) Peter; (Allison Proctor and Nate Slocum) Merrick; (Molly Proctor and Luke Hanson) Remy; and (Breanna Larson) Sammie, Thane and David. She made efforts to attend their baptisms, births, visitations and buy special, unique gifts so they would remember her.

She requests any donations in her name be made to the 4-H Building at Beaverhead County 4-H, 2 South Pacific, Ste #11, Attention: Shannon, Dillon, MT 59725.