Helen Waye Beebe

HELEN WAYE (FANNING) BEEBE

Ball & Dodd Funeral Home

Helen Waye (Fanning) Beebe passed away peacefully September 8 surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in Walla Walla on October 3, 1922, to Robert and Hazel (Frink) Fanning. Her father died when she was five, leaving Hazel to raise three young children at the beginning of the Depression. Hazel managed through hard work, sacrifices and a great sense of humor to do just that.

Helen graduated from high school just prior to WWII, and when the 1942 Walla Walla air base opened, she was employed for the next two years. She met her life mate Richard "Dick" Beebe, an airman from Connecticut, and they married 12/1/1944. Helen worked at the local Army Hospital until the war ended. They spent the next 6 months in Lakeville, CT, where Helen became acquainted with her new family.

They moved to Spokane and lived there for 10 years. Helen worked at the Crescent Dept. Store until she became a mother of twin boys, Richard and Michael (nicknamed Rick and Mick). Shortly after, they moved to Richland and five years later to Kennewick. Helen was a stay-at-home mom until her sons were juniors at Kennewick High School. She then went to work at Washington Elementary as a library clerk, retiring after 15 years.

Helen enjoyed club work, volunteering and traveling. She was a member of Tri-City Mothers of Twins, Kennewick Junior Women's Club, Sisu Women's Club, Washington Children's Home Society and Friends of the Library. One of the most enduring and special relationships of her life was her close friendships with three neighboring couples, Duane and Bobbi Hobbs, Ray and Jolene Mewes and George and Betty Merrill. They had wonderful times together, vacations, trips, camping and family celebrations. All were avid bridge players and this became a favorite shared pastime. Over the years their children also became best friends and they considered themselves an extended family.

After Helen and Dick retired, they spent time traveling every state, most of Canada and several trips to Europe. When health problems arose, they moved to Canyon Lakes Village, where they made many new friends. Later, they moved to Spokane to be near family.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick, her brother Robert Fanning and sister Elizabeth Walker. She leaves her sons Rick and Mick and her two daughters-in-law Peggy and Judy, with whom she had a close rapport. She dearly loved all four of them, as well as her five grandsons, Nick and Justin, and Steven, James, and Michael. She was thrilled when Nick's daughter Ruby was born, her first great-grandchild, and looked forward to when Ruby would come to visit. Helen also leaves her nephews Robert Walker, Warren (Kyomi) Walker, and niece Darla Copeland Groce and her family. Helen kept close ties with her husband's family in Connecticut, especially sister-in-law Clarinda Ulin and her daughter Mary Christinat and family.

Helen's sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons and great-granddaughter will miss her hugs, her humor, her laughter and her love!

Service will be held at 11:30 am, Saturday, September 22, 2012, at the Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society. Helen's family invites you to sign her guestbook at www.ballanddodd.com.