Helen Lindstrom Ritchie

Helen Lindstrom Ritchie passed away on October 28, 2019 at the age of 100 years.

Helen is survived by her two children, daughter Virginia Rheinheimer (Roger) and son, Michael Ritchie (Pam), grandson Garrett Ritchie, and nieces Cheryl Thompson, Gail Brown and Diane Ness.

The daughter of Ida and August Lindstrom, Helen was born in Seattle, Washington at the new Swedish Hospital, and was raised in Preston, Washington.  Following the tradition of the women in her family, Helen traveled to Alaska as a young woman in the late 1940’s. She worked for the Fairbanks School District as an administrative assistant and occasional substitute English teacher.  She loved her time in Alaska where she made many lifelong friends. It was there that she met her husband, Miram Ritchie, who was in the Air Force. For the next twenty years, as a military wife, Helen lived in Las Vegas, Denver, Okinawa, and on bases located in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Helen worked as a personal secretary to military officers as well as company executives until her children were born. The family eventually settled in Mesquite, Texas.

She loved to read and was a devoted Cowboys football fan until she moved to Port Angeles and slowly converted to a Seahawks 12 member.

She excelled in all her roles; secretary, home maker, mother and friend.

Helen was a gracious woman, whose gentle soul and beautiful smile enriched the lives of those who met her.  She loved to laugh, had a quick wit, and always enjoyed a good joke. She will be missed.

There will be a private memorial service at a later date.

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