Funeral Service: Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City
Interment: will follow in the family lot in the Custer County Cemetery with full military honors provided by VFW Post #1579
William A. Bill Helm, age 77, of Miles City passed away at Holy Rosary Hospital on March 7, 2006 from complications due to Parkinson's Disease.
Bill was born on June 9, 1928 to Johann and Eva Schneider Helm on the family ranch north of Angela, Montana in the Wason Flats community in Garfield County. He completed grade school in country Purewater School and graduated from Garfield County High School in Jordan, Montana in 1946. After graduating, he helped his father farm and ranch and also helped with lambing on the L.R. Jordan ranch. He was employed for two winters by Logan Hardware in Brockway, Montana and while there they sent me to a short course in International Harvester truck and tractor maintenance in Billings, Montana in 1948. He was quite impressed as a teenager to help his father trail cattle to the Northern Pacific railroad horseback in Brockway, Montana as well as trail horses with a neighbor in Miles City. Bill served in active duty in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict in Alaska from March of 1953 until he was honorably discharged in 1954. Bill then enlisted in the United States Army Reserves where he served until June of 1961. Bill married Violet I. Schlepp on July 12, 1952. She passed away on January 12, 1982. They farmed and ranched for 30 years and built some rental property in Miles City and also built a new house after selling the ranch to son, Bill Jr. and moved into Miles city after semi-retiring. He then married Dorothy Hansen in September of 1992.
Bill served on the board of trustees ofGarfield county School District 16 for 25 years. He served on the Garfield County A.S.C.S. County Committee, Garfield County Fair Board, Farmers Union Elevator Board of Circle, Montana and served many years on the Church Council. Bill was a life member of the VFW Post #1579 in Miles City, the First Lutheran Church and the Eagles post 1085. Bill enjoyed yard work, reading, traveling, dancing but most of all spending time with his grandchildren.
Bill is survived by a son, William E. Bill Helm and his wife Floreta of Angela, MT; two daughters: Linda L. Douglas and her husband Doug of Malta, MT; Lucinda L. Dutton and her husband Leo of Helena, MT; four stepsons: Greg Temple and his wife Vicki of Glendive, MT; Dan Temple of Phoenix, AZ; Jim Temple and his wife Joan of Glendive, MT; and Tom Temple and his wife Amy of Glendive, MT; two brothers: John Helm of Miles City, MT and Gerhard Helm of South Miles City, MT; six grandsons and eight step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Eva Kamback and AnnaLeidholt; three brothers: Ted Helm, George Helm and Godfrey Helm; two granddaughters: Sarah Mae and Elizabeth Kay Helm.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 10, 2006 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Custer County Cemetery with full military honors provided by VFW Post #1579. Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church Radio Ministry, PO Box 368, Miles City, MT 59301.
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