Helen Fisher passed away peacefully, with family in attendance, Thursday, November 20 at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City at the age of 86.
Helen was born July 7th, 1928 in Butte, MT, where she grew up, and went to Butte schools. From there, she attended Montana State University, where she met a handsome Irishman from Baker, Gerald B. Cherry. They married in 1946, and after moving around Wyoming and Montana for the first few years, settled in Baker, where they had two children, Cynthia and Charles Cherry. They moved to Miles City in 1955, where Gerald was employed with the Bureau of Land Management. There, Helen gave birth to another son, Donald and the family was complete. Helen was a devoted mother, and homemaker. She was a talented cook, baker, seamstress, and never met a knitting or crochet needle she didn’t love. She enjoyed raising her beloved children, playing bridge, reading and gathering with Baker and Miles City friends. Helen also was a pretty fine bowler, her team went to State in the early 60’s! But that life would change after divorce, when she met, married and moved from a life of relative luxury to the life of a rancher’s wife. In May of 1976, she moved to the Jack Fisher Ranch, on Pennell Creek, near Ismay, where she lived and worked the ranch for 30 years. Helen made many good friends in her time in the country and loved the ranch life, until Jack’s death in 2004. Being back in Miles City was a Godsend to Helen, who was back among her friends and neighbors from her old neighborhood on South Jordan.
She loved being back in her Presbyterian Church circle and near her family in town. Helen’s condo on the edge of the Town & Country Club made her feel like a “fairy princess” and she enjoyed reasonably good health until June of 2013. For the last year and a half, she resided at Holy Rosary as well as Cottonwood Care.
She is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Cherry-Schif (Mike) of St. Charles, IL; and two sons, Charles (Carol) Cherry and Don Cherry of Miles City, three grandchildren, Darcy Christopherson (Kurt), Donald Cherry of Miles City and Maxwell Schif of Chicago, IL and a brother, Jack Dunbar of Missoula, MT and sister, Dorothy Kinsley (Glenn) of Stevensville, MT as well as two nephews, two nieces and three great-grandchildren. Life has been good, and it goes on…
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 24, 2014 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Memorials may be made to The Presbyterian Church in Miles City, or to the charity of your choice.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday November 24, 2014
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 25, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday November 24, 2014
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 25, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
Miles City, Montana 59301
Janet and Harley Klein says
Bing and family: So very sorry to hear of the sad news of your mother’s passing. Know that she is being taken care of in heaven and is awaiting her family and friends to join her in eternity. You are in our thoughts and prayers…
Donna & Mark Sindelar says
Bing & family – so sorry for your loss. Hope good memories help you through this difficult time. Sending thoughts & prayers your way. Take care!
Denise Harvey says
Bing and Cynthia,
My memories of your mom were exactly what I read in this beautiful obituary. Take care and God bless!
Denise Oberlander Harvey
Chris and Diana Elwood says
We are so sorry to hear of Helen’s passing. I, (Diana ) never knew Helen til Chris and I moved to the Whitney Creek area and got to know Jack and Helen, we spent so many happy evenings, eating delicious meals and great conversation. Helen and I butchered many chickens together and had the best time picking feathers , gutting and cutting up young chickens together. She was a precious person and we will both always have wonderful memories of her. Our sympathy goes to all the family. God bless.
Ruben and June Opp says
Bing and Family, We are so sorry to see about the passing of your mother she was always such a pleasant person to wait on at the grocery store. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all now and the days ahead May God bless and comfort you all.
Ruben and June Opp
Patty and Bob Washington says
What a wonderful woman Helen was. What a fabulous life she had. Bless you all.
Mary Ann Liles says
Bing and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jim & Mary Ann Liles
Tracey Peterson says
Helen was a wonderful lady. So many good memories of her and the time we spent with her at the ranch. She will be greatly missed. Thoughts and prayers to each of you.
Tracey Ehman Peterson
Niki Munroe says
Bing, Carol and family: So sorry to hear of Helen’s passing. She was a gem and will be missed by many. I could always count on her for a good laugh. Keeping you in my prayers.
Niki Munroe
J Johnson says
My sincere condolences to the family of Helen Fisher – Please accept my deepest sympathy. We hurt when someone we love so much dies. Jesus felt the pain when his friend Lazarus died, and he promised that everyone exercising faith in him will live again. We have the hope of the resurrection (John 5:28, 29). I hope you are comforted by Bible promises of a hopeful future including hope of everlasting life (John 17:3).
Donald Sterling says
Helen deserved lots of praise for living on that Ismay ranch
for a mere 28 years. Jack and Helen had a hard life along with
it being a hard way to make a living, ranching in eastern Montana.
She was well read and could carry a good conversation. Too bad
they did not find oil shale under those hills to make
up for all that work.
Rest in peace.