Helen Irene Edgar Sowerwine Venier

1945 - 2023

One of the last original daughters of Park County passed away early on December 20, 2023 at the age of 78. Helen was born in Cody, Wyoming on April 30th, 1945 at the Old Cody Hospital. She was the third born of Paul G. Edgar and Marjorie (Downer) Edgar. Her siblings were Bob, Larry and David.

Helen started her life at the small oilfield company camp town in Oregon Basin. Her father, Paul, who was part Comanche Indian, worked in oil field production. The family lived at the oil field camp until they moved to Cody in 1950.

Helen's mother, Marjorie, established and operated a home decorating, upholstery and drapery business in Cody for over 50 years. Helen was extremely close to her mother, grandmother and great Aunt Helen.

Helen was educated in the Cody public schools. That is where she met her future husband Elbert O. Sowerwine III. Helen and Elbert were married on November 23, 1963, both were 18 years old. The newlyweds moved to Broken H Ranch in the Wapiti Valley where they lived and ran the dude ranch. Helen and Elbert relocated to Bozeman Montana where their first three children (E.O., J.F. and Nicole) were born. They moved to Nicaragua and on their return, Jon was born in Cody to complete their family.

In 1975, the family moved to the Trout Creek Ranch where the children grew up. Many fond memories were made at the ranch. During this time, Helen and Elbert were involved in many successful businesses in and around the Cody area. They divorced after the children were grown.

Helen met Joseph Venier and the couple married on February 2, 2000. Joseph, born in Trieste, Italy emigrated to Australia where he had retired as a train engineer. Joseph was a kind and gentle man who loved Helen very much. They spent their years together traveling to Australia, Italy, throughout Europe and Morocco. Joseph passed away in November of 2019.

Helen loved to travel and she loved her home. She was a very creative person with a passion for decorating. She collected an eclectic range of antiques from around the world. She was an avid reader and had a green thumb, house plants being her favorite.

Helen lived most of her life on the Northfork in the Wapiti Valley. She had a wide network of friends within the area. Helen was a member of Wapiti Woman's Club for 60 years. She had life-long friends from all over the world, keeping up with them through her weekly phone calls. She was a good friend to many.

Helen was a fiercely loving, protective and caring mother and friend. Her family meant everything to her. Helen was a dearly loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Helen Irene Edgar Sowerwine Venier was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Marjorie Edgar, her second husband Joseph Venier, brother Bob Edgar, son E.O. Sowerwine IV, grandson Craig Sowerwine, sister-in-law Jan Edgar, niece Cori Edgar Vaughn and her Great Aunt Helen Starbird.

Survivors include brother Larry Edgar of Meeteetse and his children Jim and Lori Edgar, brother David (Ramona) Edgar of Wasilla, Alaska and their children Jared, Mary and Jenny, daughter-in-law Barbie (E.O. preceded in death) Sowerwine of Hulett and their children E.O. V (Allie) Sowerwine, Sarah Sowerwine (Brennan) Fitzgerald, son J.F. (Lisa) Sowerwine of Billings and their children Randy, Markus and Katie (Joe) Mueller, daughter Nicole (Neil) Stevenson of Darwin, Australia and her children Alexandria, Eddie and Marquette, son Jon (Gina) Sowerwine of Wapiti and their children Miles, Joey and Michael, and twelve great grandchildren.

Helen's ashes are interned at the Sowerwine family cemetery next to Trout Creek in the Wapiti Valley, Wapiti, Wyoming.

Those wishing to attend the celebration of Helen's life are invited to attend the memorial at Old Trail Town, Cody, April 27th, 2024 at 1:00 pm.