March 16, 2010

Helen M. Black

     Helen M. Black, 89, a resident of Arlington, died at a care facility in The Dalles on Saturday, March 13, 2010.
     She was born on the homestead in Copenhagen, Mont., on Nov. 12, 1920, the older of four children to Peter J. and Hannah (Larson) Pederson. Her father emigrated at the age of 12 from Norway with his brother Ludwig. Her mother, Hannah emigrated from Sweden and married Peter in 1915. Both of her parents died when she was eight. At that time she was put in an orphanage.
In 1938 she went to Butte Montana to live and work with the Sterretts and graduated from high school. After high school she went to Minneapolis to beauty school and became a beautician. She then went to Chicago to Moody Bible Institute.
     When her sister Ann became ill she moved back to Butte, Mont., to help take care of her. While she was there she met and later married Leonard Black. They lived in several places, moving to Oregon in 1968 and settling in Arlington in 1975.
     She was very involved in church, helping in the Good News Club and teaching Sunday school. She was very crafty, and a good seamstress, making wedding dresses and several May Day gowns for seniors in Arlington. She loved old hymns, her favorite being “Amazing Grace.”
     She is survived by her two daughters, Virginia and Sandy; her granddaughter, Heather; her grandson, Nathan; two great-granddaughters, Katlyn and Lillian; and two sisters who live in Montana.
     She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard in 1986, her parents and her brother.
     Private cremation held at Win-Quatt Crematory in The Dalles with Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
     A memorial service was held on Tuesday, March 16 at the Church of the Nazarene in Arlington, with Pastor Connie Jo Yutzie officiating.
     In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Nazarene Church for Sunday School and Child Evangelism.