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Esther Helsel Obituary
Esther Mildred Helsel was born into a loving family on May 25, 1916, in Alberta, Canada. In her youth the family moved to Oregon, where she occasionally accompanied her father up the Rogue River by boat as he sold Fuller Brush items. The family later moved to California where they eventually settled in Turlock.
As a teenager, Esther was a talented athlete and very competitive. Her doting older brother, Kermit, taught her how to throw a ball. She loved playing tennis, especially when she was able to beat the boys.
Esther graduated from Seattle Pacific University and in 1942 married E. Walter Helsel. For many years she was an elementary school teacher in the Shoreline School District. She especially enjoyed physical education classes with her students.
Summer vacations for the family included traveling to Turlock to visit Esther's parents and extended stays in the old officer's housing at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island. Esther and Walter frequently traveled overseas and led a number of trips to the Holy Lands. In 1969 Esther took a sabbatical from her teaching position and spent nine months traveling alone around the world.
After retirement, Esther and her husband spent time teaching in mission schools in the Philippines and in Hong Kong. In 1990 they moved to Warm Beach Senior Community in Stanwood. Esther kept busy traveling, making ceramics, visiting friends and helping to organize the dining room.
Esther was preceded in death by her brothers, Kermit and Charles Hammer, and her husband, E. Walter Helsel. She is survived by her children: Edward and wife Judith of Mercer Island, Washington, Kermit of Seattle, Washington, Donald and wife Christine of Seattle, Washington, Marilynn and husband Alvin Arnold of Grandview, Washington, and grandchildren: Kim (Ben) Beaudoin, Colleen (Matt) Brent, Kendra (Caleb) Hug, Meghan Helsel and Benjamin (Maggie) Helsel and seven great grandchildren, Hannah, Peter, Miriam, Jonathan, Luke, Adam, and Samantha.
A memorial service will be held in the Beachwood Lounge at the Warm Beach Senior Community, Stanwood, Washington, on August 10, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Esther Helsel Women's Soccer Endowment at Seattle Pacific University.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Esther Helsel
2 Entries
Gail Walters
July 7, 2014
Mrs. Helsel was my Kindergarten teacher at Briarcrest Elementary in Shoreline during the 1959-1960 school year. I have always remembered her fondly - for drying my hair when I forgot my rain hat, for patiently allowing me to read to the class (badly), and for telling me that she thought I had "good rhythm" when banging away at the sticks and bells in percussion class. I honestly did not know her first name - but she looks the same in this picture as she did back then....an angl. I'm 60 now,and living in Washington DC- but I will never forget her.
Linda Burnett Larson
July 30, 2013
Esther Helsel was my 4th grade teacher at Ridgecrest Elementary in Shoreline, WA during the 60's. She had a wonderful way of teaching us about other countries. She allowed us to be creative in our presentations to the class whether it was by building something, artwork,or crafting something that involved the cultures of others. She had an amazing way of bringing to life other regions because of her storytelling. It was because of her that I had a desire to travel and a need to find out and explore places beyond our hometown. It is too bad that she never knew the impact that she made on me as a teacher and how that translated into my life in the later years both personally and in my own style of teaching. Thank you for sharing your gifts with so many students. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.
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