Helen Marie Koenig

Helen Marie (Antila) Koenig, 82 , of Great Falls, who was active in Our Savior's Lutheran Church for over 60 years, died of natural causes Wednesday at a local care facility.
Visitation is 1 to 5 p.m. today at Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory. Her funeral is 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with burial in Highland Cemetery.
Helen is survived by daughters Gloria (Pete) Pueschel of Great Falls, Phyllis (Lee) Shannon of Kalispell and Surprise, Ariz., and Brenda Lust of Hattiesburg, Miss.; six grandchildren, Greg Overturf, Lee (Rachel) Shannon, Toby Shannon, Bobbie Jo (Josh) Kull, Andrea (Marty) Curtis, and Adam (Stephanie) Lust; 10 great-grandchildren, Darin, Cory and Brittany Overturf, Steven, Dylan and Lily Curtis, McKenzie and Jaelyn Lust, Cooper Kull and Tarren Andrews-Shannon; and her first great-great-grandchild due in May, Elizabeth Overturf. She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Sylvia Antila, Lydia Kelly and Eileene Koenig, and several nieces and nephews.
Our mother was born March 30, 1924, in Great Falls, Mont., to Antero and Maria Antila. She was raised on the family farm north of Geyser, Mont., graduating from Geyser school in 1942.
Helen then moved to Great Falls, where she graduated from Great Falls Commercial College. During this time she met and married Sven Boyd. They had two daughters, Phyllis and Brenda. They later divorced, and in 1950 she married Walter Koenig, who also had two children, Kenneth and Gloria.
Our mother was a woman of many talents, including keeping the books for the family-owned floor-covering business and later Dad's construction business. She also did taxes at a local CPA firm, worked as a head teller at a bank, and in the summers worked in the paramutuals during the horse races. Many will remember her as their Avon Lady in the 1970s and 1980s. Her last job, which she loved, was in the Cascade County Elections Office. She worked there into her 70s, until illness forced her to retire.
Helen was a former member of the Altrusa Club and also a founding member of the local chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha Sorority, where she was named "Woman of the Year." She formed many lifelong friendships through this organization.
She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church for nearly 60 years and served the church in many ways, from counting Sunday's donations to baking a dish for a church function, or just helping out whenever they needed her. Her strong faith sustained her throughout her entire adult life, including counseling others through her Stephen Ministries.
Mother was a breast cancer survivor and had also volunteered in the radiation department at Benefis East Hospital. She wanted to give hope to others.
She loved all forms of needlework and crocheted many afghans for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We looked forward to the special Christmas decorations she made every year to be hung on our trees. She also loved to do crosswords, read and play cards.
Her last two years were spent at Cambridge Courts Assisted Living, where she was cared for with love and compassion. We thank you all!
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Walt in 1976; a son, Kenneth; brothers Niilo and Edward Antila; and a sister, Elizabeth Siblerud.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.
Condolences may be sent online to croxfords@qwest.net and/or greatfallstribune.com/obituaries.