Helen Lane
Helen Lane, 91 of Billings passed away on March 10, 2011. She was born in 1919 in Poplar, MT to Gustave and Mable Lundeen. She graduated from Poplar High School in 1937 and then graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in foods and nutrition. She did her dietetic internship at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. Her first job was at the University of Chicago’s Mothers Lying In Hospital where she worked for 2 years.
In 1944 she entered the U.S. Army as a hospital Dietitian where she served for 2 years at Barnes General Hospital in Vancouver, WA and then in Ft. Lewis, WA. She returned to Poplar and worked for her father at the Fort Peck Mercantile until 1950 when she moved to Billings to work as a dietitian at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Helen returned to Poplar and in 1954 met a young geologist who had come from Texas to work in the oil fields. On June 4, 1955 she married Billy B. Lane, and they moved to Billings where their only child Mary Lee Lane was born in 1956.
Helen was an excellent homemaker and was known to host many wonderful meals for friends and family. In later years, Helen accompanied Billy on his well sitting jobs where she joked she knew many small motels all over Eastern Montana.
On June 5, 2001, Billy passed away and she moved to Aspen View Retirement Home where she resided until her death.
Helen belonged to Kappa Alpha Theta, Eastern Star and was a lifelong Presbyterian at the Poplar Presbyterian Church in her youth and the First Presbyterian Church in Billings. Helen had many hobbies and was fond of animals. She loved many dogs and cats throughout her life.
She is survived by her daughter Mary of Plainfield, VT; 2 nieces; 5 nephews; and her in-laws in Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband; her sisters, Margaret Hunt of Poplar and Mary Louise Mitchell of Great Falls; and her brothers-in-law, Jack Ray Lane and Harold Lane in Texas.
At Helen’s request, no funeral services are planned. Her great nephew Gus has arranged for both Billy and Helen’s remains be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, which is a great honor.
Helen’s daughter lives with a serious, rare disease and donations may be made FDRS in her name to assist in finding a cure for this disease. (Fat Disorders Research Society, 2305 Robincrest Ln., Glenview, IL 60025)
.Remembrances
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