Former Riverton resident M. Helen Fish, 95 of Grand Junction, Colo., died of natural causes on Saturday, May 29, 2010.
Graveside services are at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
A reception follows at the First Nazarene Church of Riverton.
There is a viewing from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the funeral home.
Mary Helen Goertz was born in Fairview, Okla., on June 23, 1914, the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Goertz.
Her father had proved up on a homestead in Northeast Wyoming in 1906, on the Belle Fourche River near Mona, Wyo., who is about 15 miles north of present day Alladin, Wyo. In 1923, the family moved to the homestead from Oklahoma in a Model T truck. Upon arrival in Wyoming, her father traded the truck for a team of horses, a wagon, and a plow. The family constructed a sod house with walls of 14-16 inches. The house, in disrepair, still stands today, according to the family.
Helen attended a one-room school house and was graduated from the eighth grade.
On Oct. 6, 1930, she married Dean Fish and lived on his homestead in Southeastern Montana.
In July of 1937, she moved to Riverton, working for several years for the Farmers' Elevator, picking rocks and dirt out of pinto beans. She began her cookie career with Cleo Collins at the Challenger Café, across the street from the Ranger. Over the years, she worked at the Teton Hotel, Sky Club, Carter's Café, and at the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 1693 in Riverton.
Her family said one of the highlights of her life was her 66th birthday when the members of the Elks Lodge donated to give her a new 1980 Ford Courier pickup.
In May of 1992, Mrs. Fish sold her house and apartment building and moved to Grand Junction to be near her sister, Sarah Winslett.
Mrs. Fish is survived by her daughter, Ramona Hlebichuck and husband John of Grand Junction; her son, Don Fish of Newport, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Stella Goertz and husband Gilbert and Lola Goertz and husband Jack; nieces, Eunice Laitner and husband Louie, Laverne Johnson, Linda Showey and husband Elgy, Jeanie Eckley and husband Bill, Sandy Gro and husband Charlie, Kris Rakisits, Paula Lane and husband Virgil; nephews, Jerry Fish and Rodney Goertz; grandchildren, Mike, Dale, and David Hlebichuck, Debra Zahn, Candy Fish, Melody Griffin, Robin Gentry, and Don Fish, Jr.; 13 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Fish in 1972; parents, Abe and Elizabeth Goertz; sisters, Marguerite Fish and husband Clifford, Sarah Winslett and husband Ray, Anna May Parson and husband Harry; brothers, Gilbert, Frank, John, and Jack Goertz.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.
Graveside services are at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
A reception follows at the First Nazarene Church of Riverton.
There is a viewing from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the funeral home.
Mary Helen Goertz was born in Fairview, Okla., on June 23, 1914, the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Goertz.
Her father had proved up on a homestead in Northeast Wyoming in 1906, on the Belle Fourche River near Mona, Wyo., who is about 15 miles north of present day Alladin, Wyo. In 1923, the family moved to the homestead from Oklahoma in a Model T truck. Upon arrival in Wyoming, her father traded the truck for a team of horses, a wagon, and a plow. The family constructed a sod house with walls of 14-16 inches. The house, in disrepair, still stands today, according to the family.
Helen attended a one-room school house and was graduated from the eighth grade.
On Oct. 6, 1930, she married Dean Fish and lived on his homestead in Southeastern Montana.
In July of 1937, she moved to Riverton, working for several years for the Farmers' Elevator, picking rocks and dirt out of pinto beans. She began her cookie career with Cleo Collins at the Challenger Café, across the street from the Ranger. Over the years, she worked at the Teton Hotel, Sky Club, Carter's Café, and at the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 1693 in Riverton.
Her family said one of the highlights of her life was her 66th birthday when the members of the Elks Lodge donated to give her a new 1980 Ford Courier pickup.
In May of 1992, Mrs. Fish sold her house and apartment building and moved to Grand Junction to be near her sister, Sarah Winslett.
Mrs. Fish is survived by her daughter, Ramona Hlebichuck and husband John of Grand Junction; her son, Don Fish of Newport, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Stella Goertz and husband Gilbert and Lola Goertz and husband Jack; nieces, Eunice Laitner and husband Louie, Laverne Johnson, Linda Showey and husband Elgy, Jeanie Eckley and husband Bill, Sandy Gro and husband Charlie, Kris Rakisits, Paula Lane and husband Virgil; nephews, Jerry Fish and Rodney Goertz; grandchildren, Mike, Dale, and David Hlebichuck, Debra Zahn, Candy Fish, Melody Griffin, Robin Gentry, and Don Fish, Jr.; 13 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Fish in 1972; parents, Abe and Elizabeth Goertz; sisters, Marguerite Fish and husband Clifford, Sarah Winslett and husband Ray, Anna May Parson and husband Harry; brothers, Gilbert, Frank, John, and Jack Goertz.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.