Helen Virginia Mills

11/04/1915 - 06/07/2011

MILLS, Helen Virginia

Long time St. John resident, passed away Tuesday, June 07, 2011. Funeral Services will be Monday, June 13th, at 11:00 am at the St. John United Methodist Church. The graveside service will take place earlier at 10:00 am at the St. John Cemetery. Viewing will be Friday from 9 to 4 at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax. Helen was born November 4, 1915 in Portland, Oregon to Harold and Grace (Wilhelmi) Davies. She lived on a houseboat in the Willamette River until she was two years old and the family moved to Tacoma, WA. She graduated from Lincoln High School there and then went on to the College of Puget Sound and later Central Washington University where she pursued a degree in teaching. Her plans changed after meeting one of CWU's basketball players from St. John. She married Charles Woodrow "Woody" Mills at the home of her parents in Tacoma November 27, 1937. They moved to his family's farm near St. John where they lived and farmed their entire lives. She kept busy as a homemaker and mother and helped with many of the farming chores. She was affectionately known as the "egg lady" and had a regular Saturday route she would follow. Helen was a member of the St. John United Methodist Church, Eastern Star, the Wheatland Grange, the Wednesday Club and a founding member of the St. John Saddle Club. She enjoyed sewing and quilting and she also liked to travel. Helen made scrapbooks for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that have become treasured keepsakes through the years. She loved spending time with her family and especially following her grandchildren in all their activities. She is survived by her children Janna Nelsen and Mac and his wife Karen Mills all of St. John; seven grandchildren, Mike Nelsen, Daryn Nelsen, Tom Nelsen, Joni Marsh, Holli Bafus, Rod Mills and Shani Hergert; nine great-grandchildren, Cassie Keys, Randi Nelsen, Devan Bafus, Marshall Bafus, Cooper Mills, Lance Mills, Riley Lamb, Ryan Mills, and Danny Weber. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1992, a daughter, Diana Lu Mills in 1970, her sister Gretchen Maddox, a son-in-law, Darrell Nelsen and a granddaughter-in-law, Sally Mills. The family suggests memorials be made to the St. John United Methodist Church or to donor's choice. On-line guest book at " target="_blank" rel="nofollow, noindex" class="obit-text-link">www.bruningfuneralhome.com.
BRUNING FUNERAL HOME, Colfax, is caring for the family.