Helen Irene Cushman, 80, of Cooperstown ND, passed away peacefully Jan. 15, 2009, at the Cooperstown Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. Helen was born on Sept. 12, 1928, in Moore MT, the daughter of Boyd and Esther (Spangler) Wark. She was one of 12 children. They were always keeping busy on the farm and finding different ways to get into trouble. She attended grade school in Moccasin MT. In 1940, Helen moved with her family to Stevensville MT where she graduated from Stevensville High School in 1947. She then attended Deaconess Nursing College in Billings MT and went on to receive her Registered Nursing degree from the University of Montana in Bozeman. She did her nursing clinicals in Terry MT. After graduation, Helen joined the United States Air Force in February 1953. She was honorably discharged in February 1956. While in the Air Force, she met the man of her dreams, S/Sgt Billie L. Cushman.
They were married Dec. 12, 1955, in Denver CO. While in the Air Force, the couple was stationed about the country living in Aurora CO, Anchorage AK, Indian Springs NV, Columbus OH, Missoula, MT (while Billie served in the Vietnam War), Battle Creek MI, and Finley ND, but made their home in Cooperstown.
Helen received her RN license in 9 states resulting in 53 years of nursing experience. She began working at the Griggs County Hospital/Nursing Home in 1970 and later at the McVille Community Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1999. Billie died June 5, 1985. Helen continued to make her home in Cooperstown.
Helen also ran a daycare center where all her grandchildren were raised. They meant so much to her. She loved watching all of her grandchildren grow up. She looked forward to attending their ball games, concerts, and other events.
She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Brethren Church and WMF in Cooperstown where she was a very compassionate and committed member. Known as "Grandma Helen" by everyone, you would see her all over town in her 1985 Red Jimmy, exercising at RC Cooper Athletic Center, enjoying breakfast at the Coachman Inn with friends and fellow co-workers, and at all sporting events at Griggs County Central of which she only missed a handful since 1974. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing cards at the Cooperstown Country Club on Wednesday nights. She loved traveling; one of her major accomplishments was visiting all 50 states and collecting a bell from each one. She also loved canning, crocheting, knitting, sewing quilts, reading, jigsaw puzzles, watching sports on TV, and most of all playing games with her grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children Nancy (Paul) Paintner, Rickey (Tamara) Cushman, and Karen (Jerry C.) Johnson, all of Cooperstown; grandchildren Katie (Jon) Chandler, Sarah (TJ) Rooney, Lacey Johnson, Kelcey and Abbey Cushman, Emilee Johnson, and Parker and Presley Paintner; great-granddaughter Kenady Rooney; sisters, Marie (Norman) DeBoer Boardman OR and Edith Wark of Stevensville MT; and brother Charles (Libby) Wark of Park City MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Boyd and Esther; her husband Billie; her son Billy; sisters Mae Wark, Anna Burke, and June Parks; and brothers Don Wark, George Wark, Carl Wark, Gene Wark, and John Wark.
(obituary from Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown ND)
(NOTE: Social Security and Veterans Administration records show Helen's husband's name was spelled BILLY.)
They were married Dec. 12, 1955, in Denver CO. While in the Air Force, the couple was stationed about the country living in Aurora CO, Anchorage AK, Indian Springs NV, Columbus OH, Missoula, MT (while Billie served in the Vietnam War), Battle Creek MI, and Finley ND, but made their home in Cooperstown.
Helen received her RN license in 9 states resulting in 53 years of nursing experience. She began working at the Griggs County Hospital/Nursing Home in 1970 and later at the McVille Community Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1999. Billie died June 5, 1985. Helen continued to make her home in Cooperstown.
Helen also ran a daycare center where all her grandchildren were raised. They meant so much to her. She loved watching all of her grandchildren grow up. She looked forward to attending their ball games, concerts, and other events.
She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Brethren Church and WMF in Cooperstown where she was a very compassionate and committed member. Known as "Grandma Helen" by everyone, you would see her all over town in her 1985 Red Jimmy, exercising at RC Cooper Athletic Center, enjoying breakfast at the Coachman Inn with friends and fellow co-workers, and at all sporting events at Griggs County Central of which she only missed a handful since 1974. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing cards at the Cooperstown Country Club on Wednesday nights. She loved traveling; one of her major accomplishments was visiting all 50 states and collecting a bell from each one. She also loved canning, crocheting, knitting, sewing quilts, reading, jigsaw puzzles, watching sports on TV, and most of all playing games with her grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children Nancy (Paul) Paintner, Rickey (Tamara) Cushman, and Karen (Jerry C.) Johnson, all of Cooperstown; grandchildren Katie (Jon) Chandler, Sarah (TJ) Rooney, Lacey Johnson, Kelcey and Abbey Cushman, Emilee Johnson, and Parker and Presley Paintner; great-granddaughter Kenady Rooney; sisters, Marie (Norman) DeBoer Boardman OR and Edith Wark of Stevensville MT; and brother Charles (Libby) Wark of Park City MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Boyd and Esther; her husband Billie; her son Billy; sisters Mae Wark, Anna Burke, and June Parks; and brothers Don Wark, George Wark, Carl Wark, Gene Wark, and John Wark.
(obituary from Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown ND)
(NOTE: Social Security and Veterans Administration records show Helen's husband's name was spelled BILLY.)
Helen Irene Cushman, 80, of Cooperstown ND, passed away peacefully Jan. 15, 2009, at the Cooperstown Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. Helen was born on Sept. 12, 1928, in Moore MT, the daughter of Boyd and Esther (Spangler) Wark. She was one of 12 children. They were always keeping busy on the farm and finding different ways to get into trouble. She attended grade school in Moccasin MT. In 1940, Helen moved with her family to Stevensville MT where she graduated from Stevensville High School in 1947. She then attended Deaconess Nursing College in Billings MT and went on to receive her Registered Nursing degree from the University of Montana in Bozeman. She did her nursing clinicals in Terry MT. After graduation, Helen joined the United States Air Force in February 1953. She was honorably discharged in February 1956. While in the Air Force, she met the man of her dreams, S/Sgt Billie L. Cushman.
They were married Dec. 12, 1955, in Denver CO. While in the Air Force, the couple was stationed about the country living in Aurora CO, Anchorage AK, Indian Springs NV, Columbus OH, Missoula, MT (while Billie served in the Vietnam War), Battle Creek MI, and Finley ND, but made their home in Cooperstown.
Helen received her RN license in 9 states resulting in 53 years of nursing experience. She began working at the Griggs County Hospital/Nursing Home in 1970 and later at the McVille Community Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1999. Billie died June 5, 1985. Helen continued to make her home in Cooperstown.
Helen also ran a daycare center where all her grandchildren were raised. They meant so much to her. She loved watching all of her grandchildren grow up. She looked forward to attending their ball games, concerts, and other events.
She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Brethren Church and WMF in Cooperstown where she was a very compassionate and committed member. Known as "Grandma Helen" by everyone, you would see her all over town in her 1985 Red Jimmy, exercising at RC Cooper Athletic Center, enjoying breakfast at the Coachman Inn with friends and fellow co-workers, and at all sporting events at Griggs County Central of which she only missed a handful since 1974. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing cards at the Cooperstown Country Club on Wednesday nights. She loved traveling; one of her major accomplishments was visiting all 50 states and collecting a bell from each one. She also loved canning, crocheting, knitting, sewing quilts, reading, jigsaw puzzles, watching sports on TV, and most of all playing games with her grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children Nancy (Paul) Paintner, Rickey (Tamara) Cushman, and Karen (Jerry C.) Johnson, all of Cooperstown; grandchildren Katie (Jon) Chandler, Sarah (TJ) Rooney, Lacey Johnson, Kelcey and Abbey Cushman, Emilee Johnson, and Parker and Presley Paintner; great-granddaughter Kenady Rooney; sisters, Marie (Norman) DeBoer Boardman OR and Edith Wark of Stevensville MT; and brother Charles (Libby) Wark of Park City MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Boyd and Esther; her husband Billie; her son Billy; sisters Mae Wark, Anna Burke, and June Parks; and brothers Don Wark, George Wark, Carl Wark, Gene Wark, and John Wark.
(obituary from Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown ND)
(NOTE: Social Security and Veterans Administration records show Helen's husband's name was spelled BILLY.)
They were married Dec. 12, 1955, in Denver CO. While in the Air Force, the couple was stationed about the country living in Aurora CO, Anchorage AK, Indian Springs NV, Columbus OH, Missoula, MT (while Billie served in the Vietnam War), Battle Creek MI, and Finley ND, but made their home in Cooperstown.
Helen received her RN license in 9 states resulting in 53 years of nursing experience. She began working at the Griggs County Hospital/Nursing Home in 1970 and later at the McVille Community Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1999. Billie died June 5, 1985. Helen continued to make her home in Cooperstown.
Helen also ran a daycare center where all her grandchildren were raised. They meant so much to her. She loved watching all of her grandchildren grow up. She looked forward to attending their ball games, concerts, and other events.
She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Brethren Church and WMF in Cooperstown where she was a very compassionate and committed member. Known as "Grandma Helen" by everyone, you would see her all over town in her 1985 Red Jimmy, exercising at RC Cooper Athletic Center, enjoying breakfast at the Coachman Inn with friends and fellow co-workers, and at all sporting events at Griggs County Central of which she only missed a handful since 1974. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing cards at the Cooperstown Country Club on Wednesday nights. She loved traveling; one of her major accomplishments was visiting all 50 states and collecting a bell from each one. She also loved canning, crocheting, knitting, sewing quilts, reading, jigsaw puzzles, watching sports on TV, and most of all playing games with her grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children Nancy (Paul) Paintner, Rickey (Tamara) Cushman, and Karen (Jerry C.) Johnson, all of Cooperstown; grandchildren Katie (Jon) Chandler, Sarah (TJ) Rooney, Lacey Johnson, Kelcey and Abbey Cushman, Emilee Johnson, and Parker and Presley Paintner; great-granddaughter Kenady Rooney; sisters, Marie (Norman) DeBoer Boardman OR and Edith Wark of Stevensville MT; and brother Charles (Libby) Wark of Park City MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Boyd and Esther; her husband Billie; her son Billy; sisters Mae Wark, Anna Burke, and June Parks; and brothers Don Wark, George Wark, Carl Wark, Gene Wark, and John Wark.
(obituary from Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown ND)
(NOTE: Social Security and Veterans Administration records show Helen's husband's name was spelled BILLY.)
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