Helen Stallard

Visitation:Thursday, February 24, 2005 Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Vigil Service: Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, February 25, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City

Rite of Committal: will follow in the Calvary Cemetery

Helen Stallard, formerly of Miles City, died in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, February 19. She was 87 years old.

Helen was born on February 21, 1917 at Fort Randall, SD. She was the youngest child of Leo Emmett Scanlon and Margaret Leona (Kirwan) Scanlon. Her mother died during the influenza epidemic of 1918, so Helen was raised by her father and by various relatives in Nebraska and South Dakota. She attended schools in both states, and graduated from Ceresco (NE) High School in 1935. During and after high school Helen visited her sister June Metz in Miles City on a number of occasions. It was during one of those visits that Helen met the love of her life, MelvinBerl Stallard. Berl decided that Helen was the woman for him. In the months that followed, he wrote to her many times. Early in 1936 Berl sent her father an engagement ring and a note. The note asked Leo Scanlon to give Helen the ring if she, and he, approved of the marriage. Helen andBerl married at Sacred Heart Church on June 17, 1936. They were married 60 years. Helen was determined to be the best wife and mother possible. She and Berl had six children, and she was always involved in schools, scout troops, and music lessons. One of Helen's goals was to ensure that all of her children had college educations, something she felt was necessary especially for her girls so that they could support themselves. To that end, she and Berl sent all of their children through Montana colleges and raised five teachers. Helen and Berl entertained often. In fact, Helen always had a meal ready because out-of-town clients were frequent visitors at her dinner table. She and Berl belonged to the Miles City Club and the Miles City Town & Country Club where she was an avid bridge player and golfer.

She was a member of the Birthday Club, and volunteered as a member of St. Anne's Altar Society at Sacred Heart. Wherever she was, there was a lot of laughter. She loved to laugh. Helen was a veteran traveler. She traveled with Berl to Europe and the Middle East several times, visiting countries from England to Turkey. They also sailed through the Panama Canal, and vacationed in Hawaii and the Caribbean over the years. Traveling was one of their favorite pastimes together, especially traveling to visit family.Helen sold her home in 1999 and moved to Billings to be near her daughter Cynthia. She lived at Aspen View for a year, and then moved to Phoenix, AZ to live with daughter Linda and her husband John Santoro. She continued to travel with her daughters and grandchildren until last summer, when she fell and broke her leg. An infection set in from which she was unable to recover. She was a resident of Phoenix Mountain Nursing Center at the time of her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Margaret; by a son, Timothy Dean; by her husband Berl; by her brother James; and by her sister June Scanlon Metz. She is survived by her children Linda Santoro (John) of Scottsdale, AZ; Margaret Pike of Highlands Ranch, CO; Berl E. Stallard (Carol) of Tacoma, WA; Sandra Kern (Fred) of Easton, MD; and Cynthia Jessee (Terry) of Billings.She is also survived by her grandchildren Judy Santoro Lutz (Larry); Jason, Kevin (Tracie), and Stephanie Pike; Megan and John Curgis Jessee; Melanie Tarr (Chris) and Fritz Kern (Rachel); and by her great-grandchildren Jimmy, Sandy, Christian, Jameson, Gregory, Kirsten, and Madison.

A Vigil service will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stallard-Scanlon Scholarship Fund at Carroll College. This scholarship is available to any student from Montana that wishes to attend Carroll College. Send memorials to: Carroll College in care of Stallard-Scanlon Scholarship Fund, 1601 N. Benton Ave., Helena, MT 59525. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.