Helen Speelmon, a longtime resident of Miles City, died August 8 from complications of COVID-19. She was born in 1925 in Livingston to George and Margaret Boylan, one of six children. She attended Montana State College (now MSU), and taught Home Ec for many years.
Helen was a sassy, smart, resilient, and continually happy woman. She played bridge in college and continued to love the game and the many friends she made playing bridge. She loved her family and her home state of Montana. In her later years she had to move to Ohio to live with her daughter, but she always kept a bag packed, ready to return to her beloved Montana.
Helen was predeceased in 2016 by her husband, Sandy Speelmon, and is survived by her four daughters, Margaret (Tim) Cowley of Bloomfield, NY, Rosalie Kline of Dayton, OH, Linda (Ken) Briggs of Tucson, AZ, and Janet (Terry) Summer of Aiken SC, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We wish to gratefully acknowledge the tender care she received at Hospice of Dayton.
A graveside service is planned for Spring 2022. Donations in her memory may be made to Miles City Public Library or to Miles City Hospice
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
11:00 AM
Saturday June 11, 2022
Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
11:00 AM
Saturday June 11, 2022
Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
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Bernadette and Gary says
Helen and Sandy were great friends and neighbors to Mom and Dad. Our prayers and hugs are with all of their family! Good bless you.
Denise Harvey says
A wonderful teacher who made a difference in many lives!
Thank you!
Ruben and June Opp says
Helen and Sandy, we’re wonderful neighbors for many years on Yellowstone street and great people in the community of Miles City. May God bless and comfort all you girls and your families with all the memories of the days gone by. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Ruben and June Opp
Mish and Dave Leidholt says
I am so sorry! Your folks were very special people. Hugs and lots of love to each and every one of you.
Jeff & Val Hyatt says
May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories of such a dear lady as you celebrate a life well lived. Our prayers are with you during this time.
Carol Rainey says
Special lady….loved her as a teacher and she was always very gracious.
Peggy says
Helen and Sandy were such beautiful people. My folks were good friends. RIP ,Helen. My prayers and sympathies go out to all family
Sally ness says
She was such a wonderful woman. I loved the time I spent with the family . My prayers are with u all. She is missed everyday in my memories.
Karen Kreitel says
Janet & family – thoughts and prayers are with you. Your mom was always so nice and fun to be around!
Janet Jones Edmonds says
A lovely woman with a kind heart and a special smile. A patient teacher, too. From seventh grade through high school and into my adulthood, Mrs. Speelmon always delighted me with wonderful bits of wisdom when we would see one another. She gave me the greatest compliment once, saying, “I always knew you would do well.” It meant the world to me. To all of Mrs. Speelmon’s Family, I am sorry for your loss.
Carol Gray says
Helen was a special aunt to me and I always loved visiting with her. Sending prayers and hugs to all the family.
Mary Grube says
So sorry for your loss. Sandy and Helen sold my ex-husband and I their used camper and we got many stories that came with the camper for free!! Just loved visiting with them. A very neat couple! God’s blessings.
Jim and Cathy Bastian says
What a lady she was! She had so much spunk! Jim just loved to tease her and she would dish it right back. There was no greater smile or laugh than Helen’s. Our lives are richer because we knew her. She shared her heart, her joy, and most importantly her Lord and Savior. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Terri says
Mrs. Speelmon was my 6th grade teacher, and one of my very favorites. She was always so sweet and compassionate.
Jacque says
Rose, Margaret, Linda and Janet: God bless you during this difficult time.
Ben Speelmon says
Sandy and Helen have always been two of my favorites! So glad I got to know them during there time in Idaho! Helen is one of God’s best and will be missed!
Sending Speelmon love from Idaho during this difficult time!
Ben Speelmon
Linda carpenter says
Hello to my sweet family of one very special Aunt/ I loved, loved, hee so much. I miss catching up with aunt fritZ. She always filled m in. Aunt helen: you are one lucky sister to be home with the girls. I’m sure they missed you. Aunt fritz can now chroxjeted for you while you play bridge and watch Aumt fritz dancing. And of course aunt Mabel working her butt off to make a living for her children and grandchildren. All the Boylan women were hard workers and they have instilled that in mE. Lov e you all so
Much and keep
Me informed/
Carolyn Laddusaw says
Loved Aunt Helen and will miss her. Camping, fishing, and having fun is how I will remember her, so much fun and laughter.
Karen Hodgson. (Relative) says
My heartfelt condolences to all of Helen,s family. It was a great joy for George and I to know Helen and Sandy. We would stop and visit them every time we’d go through Miles City. I’m sure you all have such great memories of such good people. I’m sure Helen will be deeply missed.
Lana "Jeanne' Cummins says
I remember her always wearing that smile, always welcoming, always open-hearted. A truly wonderful woman. I’m sure that smile and spirit is eternal and will always be a part of those of us who were lucky enough to have known her.
Sheila Hagemeister says
Mrs Speelmon was my Home Ec teacher for both 7th and 8th grade. She had such a passion for teaching. I learned so much from her classes and from her as a person. She always inspired us all.
Nellie & Jeff Speelman says
so sorry to hear of Helens passing. Your family is in our prayers.
John Boylan says
I have great memories of Aunt Helen. We went to Mill Iron in 1977 on vacation and had so much fun. We helped Sandy load a steer named Jimmy Carter and Helen said we would be in the newspaper. Sure enough she wrote an article about the visit from the Boylan’s and how we helped Sandy move the steer. She sent us the article and we thought it was so cool to be in the paper.
Then I showed up tired and hung over with 2 fraternity brothers at Pompeys Pillar in 1984 and Helen welcomed my friends just like they were family. After feeding us we all went down to a bar and it seemed like we met the whole town.
Paul Van Cleave says
It was always a joy to have an encounter with Sandy and Hellen, whether it was in Church, at the Drop in Center, or just an impromptu meetup when out and about. We miss them from our community so very much.
Kolleen (Waldo) Forsyth says
I enjoyed Mrs Speelmon so much as my Jr High Home Ec teacher. She was indeed a happy person! My sympathies to her family.
Mark A Fix says
So sorry to hear about Helen. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Dolores Meidinger Willson says
Rosalee and all the Speelmon family-
I am so very sorry you lost your mother to this ugly virus. Your Mom was a real joy to know with that big smile and the humor that was behind it.
My sincere sympathy to all of you in this time of great sorrow.
Linda Briggs says
What I loved most about my mother was her joie de vivre; she found happiness in all things, whether it was cooking, playing cards, gardening, fishing, traveling…she just loved life. Although she had hardships in her life, she worked at being happy and finding the best in life. I wrote her a Mother’s Day card once and said that when she was gone, I would miss her every day for the rest of my life…and I will! What a great mother, great woman, great teacher, friend, coach, mentor — she was wonderful!
Kelsey says
My grandma passed on her love of life and sass to all the rest of us. She was smart, funny, and a woman ahead of her time. I’m so grateful that my daughters got to know her and will always remember her. I miss her and am grieving but I’m also so glad she has joined Grandpa Sandy. She’s gone but not forgotten.
ELVERA NEUHARDT says
MANY MEMORIES OF HELEN AND HER FAMILY==DAUGHTER==JANET==SHE LOVED OUR HORSES AND LEARNED TO BE A GOOD RIDER==HELEN AND ELVERA WERE TEACHERS IN THE MILES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT==GOOD MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS==
Alice Janssen says
I am so sorry to hear about Helen, she was a lovely woman! I enjoyed knowing her and will miss her as will all of you!
Alice Janssen