Helen Ruth Harker

Our sweet mother, grandmother and sister Helen Ruth Andersen Harker passed away peacefully on May 24, 2012. She was born on April 8, 1928 in Ogden, Utah to Otto Rosel Andersen and Ruth Doul Griffin. 

Helen spent her growing up years in Ogden, Utah and Harrisville, Utah and later in Nyssa, Oregon. She lived with her parents and brothers Rosel and Lee on the family farm in Harrisville. When the farm was taken from them by the government to build the Defense Depot they moved to Nyssa, Oregon. Helen entered nursing school in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It was there she met Arthur LeRoy “Bud” Harker.  Helen and Bud were married on June 8 , 1948 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho  Temple.  Helen and Bud camped in the home they were constructing in Shelley, Idaho and paid for the materials as they built it.  Their home was not a palace but they were proud of the fact that they never had a mortgage.

Helen and Bud raised 8 children in that tiny home. Helen and Bud were an example of what a wonderful marriage could be. Helen worked for many years at Stuart Elementary in Shelley and had many friendships from that association.  Helen never said unkind words about others.  She always said “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”   Helen loved the Lord and endured faithfully to the end.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Arthur LeRoy, her children Alise Renee ’Harker , Darwin Andersen Harker, and Jonathan Andersen Harker, one grandson Nathan Harker and one great-granddaughter Kaitlan Marvel.  Also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Rosel, sisters in law Lois Andersen, Nila Williams and Elizabeth Turpin.  She is survived by her brother Lee (Carol) Andersen.  Children Robert (Mary) Harker, Marilyn (Dale) Nichols, Richard (Debi) Harker, Darla (Bryce “Lanier”)  Johnson,and  Melanie (Chris) McNeil .  She is also survived by  25  grandchildren and  61 great grandchildren. Special thanks to Amy and Dusty Smith and their daughter JDynn for their loving care of our mother.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street, in Shelley. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7:00 till 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday morning from 9:30 till 10:40 at the funeral home.  Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.