Helen Claire Bradbury

Helen Claire Bradbury, 82, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. She was born on March 15, 1923 in Berkeley, Calif., to Ralph and Grace Twogood.

When she was born her parents instilled in her a sense of adventure and courage. At 17 she traveled with her parents to visit her brother in Alaska. Helen did not return to California.

Enlivened by the beauty and excitement of frontier Alaska, Helen enrolled in school and eventually met her husband, Mack A. Bradbury. They were married on Dec. 21, 1941 in Berkeley, Calif. Mack was a trucker there who hauled freight to many interesting places. The couple spent 21 years traveling to exciting towns such as Fairbanks and roughing it in mining towns such as Dawson. Helen found her talents in organization and keeping financial records for the business.

Their son, Joel, was 10 years old when they asked him if he would enjoy a baby sister. He enthusiastically endorsed the adoption of his sisters, Evelyn and Donna.

The family moved to Lake Tahoe where Mack began a business of heavy equipment contracting. Helen worked for 11 years as secretary to the principal of the high school.

When the opportunity presented itself to purchase 43 acres near Swan Lake in Montana, they moved the family to the valley and developed a mobile home park. It was important to them that the homes in the park have private yards and cleared only as many trees as necessary to maintain the esthetics of mountain living. They also provided a shop area, equipped with tools for residents to use.

Helen has a strong spiritual base. She enjoyed attending Swan Chapel and supporting the church activities there and participating in the Ferndale Sewing Circle.

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, and two great grandchildren: Tyler Bradbury and Cooper Chatwood.

She is survived by her son: Joel Bradbury of Bigfork; two daughters: Donna Nicholson and husband Al of Sparks, Nev., and Ev Wood and husband Mike of Bigfork; eight grandchildren: Matt and wife Lisa, Adam and wife Jackie, Jason and wife Natalie, Schauntelle and husband Jason, Sarah and husband John, and Jeff, Joe and David; nine great-grandchildren: one sister: Ruth Schmoekel of California and one brother: Ron Twogood of Alaska.

Memorial services for Helen were held on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Swan Chapel in Swan Lake with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Helen's family.