Helen C. Bundy

Helen Francis Colvin Bundy passed away June 8, 2007. She was one of 11 children born to Fred and Edith Bray Colvin. Two of those children died as infants. The other nine children, seven girls and two boys, grew into adults. As of June 2007, two sisters are still alive.

Helen was born Feb. 21, 1917, on a farm near Bliss, Idaho and grew up on the family farm about two miles from the town. Helen attended Bliss Public Schools from first grade though twelfth grade when she graduated in 1935.

In the fall of 1936, Helen enrolled in the University of Idaho where she lived with her sister, Ena, and brother-in-law, Earle Blodgett. He was a professor in the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho.

At Christmastime in 1936, Helen met Wilson Bundy. They married Sept. 20, 1937. Both Helen and Wilson enrolled at Washington State College at Pullman in the fall of 1937. In March 1938, Helen and Wilson moved to Happy Ridge Farm, Culdesac, Idaho, owned by Wilson's father. Later they moved to San Luis Obispo, Calif., where Helen stayed at home while Wilson attended Califomia Cadet Agriculture Teacher Program at Califomia Poly Technical College. After he received his teaching certificate, they moved to Corning, Calif., where their daughter, Yvonne Irene was born in February 1940. Then they moved back to the farm near Culdesac, Idaho where their son, Ronald William was born In Colfax, Wash., in October 1941.

In March 1942, Helen, Wilson and his sister, Iris and husband, Andy Anderson, took over the operation of Happy Ridge Farm during the war years. During those years, another daughter, Glenda Jean, was born in Lewiston, Idaho in March 1944.

In 1953 Helen taught art in the Culdesac School where Wilson was also employed as a teacher. In 1956, they moved to Fairfield, Idaho where she taught third grade. After one year there, they moved to Leadore, Idaho where she was third-and fourth-grade teacher. In 1959, they moved to Moses Lake, Wash., where she became a fifth-grade teacher. After nine years there in 1959, they moved to Auburn, Wash., school district where she taught fifth grade. They lived in Sumner, Wash., during those years. Helen continued teaching until she retired in 1976.

In 1977, they became camp managers at Little Beaver Lake Camp near Big Lake, Alaska, which belonged to the Alaska Assemblies of God. They remained there for eight years, then moved near Ford, Wash., until 1991 and moved to Orondo, Wash., in 1999. Because of declining health, they moved to Wenatchee, Wash., then on to East Wenatchee, Wash. Wilson passed away in July 2003. Helen and Wilson were married a span of 66 years.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Yvonne Hieber of Monroe, Wash.; son Ronald and daughter-in-law, Betty, of East Wenatchee; daughter Glenda Graham and son-in-law, Wally, of Renton, Wash. Survivors also include nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters Latira McAnulty of Wendle, Idaho and Joan Markham of Mt. Home, Idaho.

Memorial will be Saturday, June 16, 2 p.m. at Valley Christian Center, 1621 S. Methow St., Wenatchee, WA, 98801, 509-663-6760.