Helen Frances Kaiser, 104, of Stanwood, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2014. She was born on September 23, 1910 to William E. and Anna L. Gittinger Westlake at Manhattan, Gallatin County, Montana.

Helen graduated from Gallatin County High School in Bozeman, Montana in 1927. She was employed as the secretary for the Gallatin County Agricultural Extension Agent and the Montana State County Agent Leader's office in Bozeman. For several years she was president of the Rotana Club, an international women's service organization. Helen married Charles Wallace Kaiser in Seattle on April 13, 1943, and their son was born while he was serving in the US Navy in WW2. After his discharge from the service, they resided in Montana. Wallace died on May 19, 1986. In 2000, Helen moved to Stanwood to be near her daughter.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church since 1923 and was active in the work of the church and church women's organizations, serving in various offices, committees and choirs. She reorganized the library for the Hamilton church and served as librarian for many years. While living in Hamilton, she drove for Meals on Wheels and volunteered at a local charity thrift shop. She liked to hike, fish and picnic in her beloved Montana mountains. After moving to Washington, she started and led an aerobic exercise group at Warm Beach Senior Community and did other volunteer work there. She liked to do needlework, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, play Scrabble, and was a whiz at Wheel of Fortune. She continued daily walks until a fall limited her mobility in 2011.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband and by her daughter, Lois Adele Cortese in 1993. She is survived by her son Jim (Ricky) Kaiser of Montana; daughter Carolyn (Murry) Spector of Stanwood; grandchildren Elaine (Derek) Higashi of Hawaii, Valerie (Daryl) Holzer of Montana, Clay (Kelley) Kaiser of Alaska, and P. James Cortese of Washington. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Jacob Cosbodillo and Kayla Higashi of Hawaii; Ericka Bigsby, Nicole Bigsby, Nathan Holzer and Joseph Holzer, all of Montana; and Cody Kaiser and Nicholas Hoek of Alaska. She was also preceded in death by special friend, LoRee Taggart of Stanwood. Helen was a gentle, warm and loving mother, grandmother and friend. She and her beautiful smile will be missed more than she could have imagined.

Her family expresses their gratitude to the staff at Josephine Sunset Home who provided loving care during the time Helen lived there.

A remembrance and celebration of her life will be held at Josephine Sunset Home on November 28 at 1:30 pm. Memorials are suggested to Josephine Sunset Home, Stanwood United Methodist Church, or Intermountain Children's Home, 500 S. Lamborn, Helena MT 59601.