Helen Patricia Carruthers

Helen Patricia Carruthers passed away peacefully in Enumclaw, Washington on August 21, 2011. Born on June 24, 1916 in Butte, Montana, she graduated Valedictorian from Hamilton High School in 1934. After working for the URM Company in Spokane, Helen returned to the Hamilton where she was bookkeeper for Valley Hardware Company, and later worked for Citizens State Bank. She became Deputy Clerk of the Court of Ravalli County in 1953, and served as deputy until she was elected Clerk of the Court; she served as Clerk continuously until her retirement in 1981. After retirement, Helen resided for many years at her rural home near Canyon Creek; she later moved to Sapphire Homes, where she enjoyed many friends. In 2006, Helen moved to Cascade House in Enumclaw to be closer to her family.

Helen loved the Bitterroot Valley, and devoted many hours to bird watching and identifying Montana's native wildflowers. She enjoyed Garden Club and made many notable flower arrangements. She introduced each of her five nieces to horseback riding, camping and hiking. She was a member of Hamilton First Church of Christ Scientist, serving as First and Second reader, organist, and Sunday school teacher. In retirement, Helen studied sculpture with Len McCann of Stevensville, creating notable small scale busts which were cast in bronze by Ross Brown of Ownings Brown Studio, Enumclaw, in 2008.

Helen was preceded in death by her father, Earl R. Carruthers, mother, Hazel Bowman Carruthers, and her sister, Marion Carruthers Musgrove. She is survived by her sister, Gail Carruthers White, five nieces, a nephew, four grand-nephews and three grand-nieces.