Wesley Bernard "Wes" Helling

FUNERAL HOME

Thornhill Valley Chapel

1400 South Pines Road

Spokane, Washington

Wesley Helling Obituary

HELLING,
Wesley
Bernard "Wes"
(Age 87)

Passed away on March 6, 2011 at home with his wife and daughter. Wes was born on February 24, 1924, to Clara and Alick Helling in Golden Valley, North Dakota. Wes was the second to the youngest of fourteen children, six boys and eight girls. He graduated from Golden Valley High School in 1942 and later graduated from the State School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He met Agnes Gamache in 1956 on a fishing trip on the Missouri River. They were married in 1958. They lived in Williston, North Dakota, until they moved to Spokane Valley in 1967. After many years as a professional land surveyor in North Dakota, Montana and Washington, Wes spent his retirement years raising produce on his farm in Spokane Valley. There was no mechanical problem Wes couldn't solve- "I have an idea." With hard work, practice and patience, Wes grew delicious corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and other produce that he sold from the house and at the Farmer's Market. Wes was a calm, gentle, quiet man. When he spoke, it was for a reason. The love for his family was shown in his actions everyday of his life. Wes (Daddy) we miss you so much already. There won't be a day that goes by that we won't think of you and remember good times. We love you so much. Wes is survived by his wife of 52 years, Agnes Helling; his sister Lorraine Bunk, Bismarck, ND; his daughters Kathy Helling, Santa Rosa, CA and Annette Helling, Mead, WA; and four granddaughters Sarah Safaie, Samantha-Jo Pedersen, Ashlee Pedersen and Lily Safaie. He is preceded in death by his son Daniel Helling. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 from 4:00-8:00PM at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Road, Spokane Valley, WA. Family and friends please also join us for a celebration of Wes' life on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:00PM at Thornhill Valley Chapel.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Spokesman-Review from Mar. 9 to Mar. 10, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Wesley Helling

8 Entries

Daddy and me selling produce

April 13, 2011

My dad…He was Daddy to me.

He taught me so many things, mostly through his actions. I tried to learn them all as best I could, the one I had a little trouble with was patience, but I’m working on it. Daddy didn’t talk a lot, but when he did, we listened.
I am so proud to be his daughter.

I will miss his morning routine, up at daylight, back window, check weather, hat, suspenders, go out to check on things in the back.

I remember when I was young he would bounce me on his knee, felt like hours and was so much fun!

I remember going out to milk cows with him. I would follow him out and watch him. Sometimes he would squirt milk to the cat and I would laugh. Sometimes we wouldn’t say a word, I would just sit there and he would milk and then we would go back in.
It was just fun to be with him.

When I was 6 the neighbors boarded a horse for a girl. I would hang on the fence and watch the horse until she would ask me if I wanted to ride her. This went on for a long time. When I was 7 my mom and I went to N.D. on a trip. When I came back I ran over to the fence to see Prissy and hope to get to ride her. My dad came over and said “spose you want to ride her” and I said “year, but I don’t think they are home” and he said…”That’s o.k., I bought her for you, you can go get her and bring her over here”.

He would let me ride her to school on the last day of school every year. The kids all thought that was so cool and I felt so special. Daddy would ride his horse and me on Prissy and when I got to school, he would lead Prissy home.
He even let me lead Prissy in the house sometimes. He was building our house and Prissy would walk right in. As a kid, I thought that was pretty cool.

I remember eating pancakes for breakfast on Saturdays…all five of us, so much fun.

When I was in h.s. and mom was working, he would get up and make me oatmeal every morning. Even about a week ago, I asked if he remembered that and he said ‘Oh, Yea’ and that morning we got up at 5:00 and had oatmeal.
And in h.s. he and mom never missed a basketball game or track meet, no matter how cold. They were both always supportive and never negative.

Daddy helped fence 10 acres at our house on Chapman with my brother and Len and me. I didn’t realize that he was probably 65 or 66 at the time.

I remember I had asked him for saw horses to use when I built stuff. It was about a year later and he had remembered and made them for me for Christmas. They weren’t ordinary saw horses, these were awesome with a shelf underneath and painted white and perfectly even.
Daddy and my mom watched our kids before and after school all the time – They became like 2nd parents to them. Daddy would warm up the car on cold mornings before taking them to school and pick girls up if it were raining. They loved Sam and Ash very much.

More recently I helped farm with Daddy. We laid drip tape, planted, fertilized, picked went to market – I have so much respect and admiration for what he did all those years, it was really hard and he never complained, he just did it. I remember going over there and he’d be out in the back working on something…weed whacker. I would say “how long you been working on this” he’d say “oh a while” (which meant a long time)…I was thinking why don’t you buy a new weed whacker. And he would pull out a part that was way down in the guts of the thing and say “here, this is it, I just need to go get this part and we’ll be good”.

He prided himself on fixing machinery and straight rows and no weeds. And he was good at all of it. His tractors both had personalities. No keys to start, just hook up the battery cable and flip the switch. The other one was something different, I think Kathy knows that one. He let Kathy drive the big “H” tractor before me and we laughed that I wasn’t old enough yet…that was about a year ago.

Going to Market was a special time. We’d get up at 5:00, have breakfast, load the truck, take off to CDA. Unload the truck at market and get all set up. I was so tired, if we had a few minutes I’d try to sleep in the cab. Not Daddy, when the bell rang to start market he already had about 20 people lined up to get produce. I couldn’t believe it…we were movin’ and shakin’. I was so proud of him.

Daddy gave great advice…just last fall I asked him how to fix my fence that was leaning way over because I had foolishly tied the basketball hoop to it and it slowly pulled it down. He said ‘let me think about it’. A few days later he said “say, this is what you need to do. Take some old 2 X 4’s and secure them to the 2 X 4’s used as dividers in the sport court. Then fasten 2 -2X4’s together so you have a long leverage board to work with. Take a crow bar and slowly move it down the fence and it will straighten out you fence. And it worked!

Daddy was really organized and on top of things. One day just last year we were working out in the garden and the Comcast truck pulls up and the guys get out and start telling my dad that they need to drive in the back of our property and put in a ditch and a cable. My dad said ‘No, that needs to be on the other side of the fence’. The cable guy said ‘no, we are supposed to put it on the easement that is on your side of the fence.” My dad went in the house and got his blueprints of our land and said ‘no, the easement is on the other side of the fence, so you need to go over there’ and the cable guys left.

Daddy had patience. Just last October, I was at the house in my car. I was backing up and there is a hole with water pipes in it. There was also a big red stick in the hole so people wouldn’t run into it. I backed right into that hole. Then I panicked and got out of it right away. Then got out of my car and my mom and I went to the hole to see if I broke any pipes. We couldn’t really tell so we covered up our car tracks and went over to Daddy who was sitting nearby and I said “hey daddy, how do you water those peach trees?” and he said “oh, with underwater pipes mostly” and I said “oh, when was the last time you watered with those pipes?” and he said, “oh, not that long ago.” And I said “did they leak” and he said “no, not much” and I said, “do you want to come over to see if they are leaking?” and he said o.k. So he came over to the hole and looked and said “oh, I think they are fine” and I said “oh, good” and he said “why, cause you ran over them” and I said “you knew!!!” and he said “yea, I saw you” and I said “well what would you have done if I broke a pipe?” and he said “well, we would have had to fix it.”
My mom and I started laughing.

About 2 or 3 years ago daddy was in the hospital. He was getting an IV put in and the nurse who was doing it tried about 4 times with no luck. Then she said, “I’m sorry, this is my first time putting one in by myself.” I was about ready to call for someone else and my dad just says “oh well, you gotta learn sometime.” She was so lucky to have an understanding patient. She finally got it in.

Re-building the greenhouse was about my most favorite time with my dad. We tore down and built up a greenhouse that was crushed from the snow a couple years back. He did all the figuring and buying lumber and corrugated roof stuff and we worked together to build a much sturdier greenhouse. He bought me and apron to hold my screws and stuff while I was working, that was awesome. I know he had more plans for it and I will do my best to get them done the way he wanted.

I will make the work bench in the greenhouse and put your drills and saws up on it. And I will put a cover over the pipe border that we made.

It won’t be the same out there with out you, daddy. You are a part of this land…everywhere I look, I see you. In the greenhouses, in the garden, by the tractors, and by the chicken house.

It is selfish of me to worry about myself but I’m a little scared that I won’t know what to do sometimes or how to fix something. You always knew.

You always worried about mom and loved her so much, you loved us kids-Danny, Kathy, and me, and all 4 of your granddaughters-Sarah, Sammie, Ashlee, and Lily! I will miss you, will never forget you. I love you…
Love, Annette

March 10, 2011

Agnes, Kathy and Annette,
When we think of Wes, we remember his smile and his kindness. Everyone who knew him has many good memories. We pray that God will grant you His strength and comfort you during this time of sorrow. Love, Darlene, Gerald, Roman, Beth, and Nolan

Lorraine, Wes and Avery

Diane Paul

March 10, 2011

Brother and sister, Wes and Lorraine

Diane Paul

March 10, 2011

To Wes' girls. He had all the love a man could have from all of you. We send our sympathy, of course and know we are keeping you all in our prayers.
He really did have a "garden", seeds he planted many years ago in his family. You will do him proud in continuing to grow and nourish each other. Peace to you all, Arlene and Dean Helling

March 10, 2011

Agnes, Kathy and Annette,
You wrote a beautiful obituary for Wes. He was a calm and gentle man, a good man, and I'm proud to call him my uncle. Love, Diane, Mike and Mick

March 10, 2011

Agnes, Kathy and Annette,
Always know that God is with you in your time of sorrow, and that I love you and care for you. Growing up, Wes was my best friend, besides being my brother. Love, Lorraine

Konni Telford

March 8, 2011

Agnes, Kathy and Annette:
Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you find comfort in the many wonderful memories you carry in your hearts.
With Love,
Konni, Del, Joey and Robby

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