Helen Morris is 65th and final First Lady

Helen Morris has never been one to shy away from hard work.

Whether it was growing up helping her mother in the kitchen, working at her husband’s logging camp or as a volunteer.

Honoring her commitment to her family and community, the Beta Sigma Phi sorority has named Morris it’s 65th and final First Lady of Whitefish. A few years ago volunteers regretfully decided it was time to make this year’s First Lady their last.

“I never thought anything of what I’ve done,” Morris said. “I’ve always stayed busy. It’s the way I was brought up.”

Morris was born in Whitefish on Nov. 24, 1916. When she was two years old her parents both died during the flu epidemic. She and her brother were adopted by Obie and Pearly Clark.

“My adopted family were the most wonderful people,” she said. “We couldn’t have gotten better parents.”

The Clarks lived on a farm across from Highway 40. In addition to her chores, Helen helped her mother with meals for a large family that often included extra children that always seemed to spend their time at the Clark home.

“There was always chores to do,” Morris recalled. “I learned to cook and do the dishes.”

Morris also worked at Van Aken’s Gardens. She walked the several miles from the farm to Central School every day even when “we had to run because we were a little bit late.”

Morris would meet her future husband when his mother sent him to their farm for milk. She was 8 and he was 12.

Born on the same date of Nov. 24, they eventually married when Helen turned 19 and David turned 23.

In the early days, they lived together in logging camps where David worked. Helen kept house and watched the children.

“We lived in cabins,” she said. “It was fun. I enjoyed it.”

Helen and David bought their farm in 1942 on the south end of Whitefish. Helen knew it was the place she wanted to live.

“I walked past this spot every day on my way to school and I said someday I’m going to live there,” Helen said.

Today, Helen still lives in the home the couple transformed from a log cabin. The home sits behind the First Baptist Church on land donated by the Morrises in 1988.

The Morrises raised cattle and had a large garden. David became an outfitter and bred palomino Tennessee walking horses.

The couple was part of the group to start the Whitefish Saddle Club. David was a founding member of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse in Kalispell. He marked 50 years of service with the posse, which early on began as a search and rescue group expanding to ride in parades and performing drills. They were also active in the Back Country Horseman.

Helen attended all the events and assisted by answering phones during an emergency.

Helen loved to ride her horses and fondly remembers two of their horses, Rambler and Lady. She proudly shows a photo of herself on a tall stallion leading a parade.

She was active in many groups including the Penney Savers Home Maker, Women of the Moose, the Mountain Trail Saddle Club and active in her church. She would spend time sewing, cooking, canning and making flower arrangements.

“People now days just don’t know how to have fun like we used to,” she quipped.

Helen and her late husband, whom she was married to for 73 years, raised two children and saw numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren join their family.

In her living room she has many photos of the younger generations. She also keeps a photo of her parents and adoptive parents nearby.

“Most people don’t save things the way I do,” she said.