Helene Mae Messman

Former longtime Sandpoint resident Helene Mae Messman crossed over on June 12, 2005.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 16, at 3 p.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Home, 320 Collins Rd., in Boise, Idaho.

She was born in Lincoln, Neb., on July 17, 1911, to Ambrose Hugh Farnsworth and Jennie Rogers Farnsworth. She was the youngest of four children.

She attended Nebraska Weslyan University and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1938 with a bachelor's of science degree in nursing. Helene worked in public health in Omaha, and then entered the Army Nurse Corps in January 1943.

She served in the European theater and landed on Normandy beach two days after D-Day. As a captain and chief nurse, her hospital followed the First Army through Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge.

She married Sidney Ray Messman, who had been in the Eighth Air Force, on Nov. 5, 1945, in Thompson Falls, Mont. A daughter, Jill, was born in 1950. Until 1991, they made their home in Sandpoint, Idaho, where Ray was in the Forest Service and a postal worker.

Helene resided at the Idaho State Veterans Home for many years.

Helene was an inspiration to many people, and a failing body did not undermine her wonderful sense of humor.

Mama and grandma, you will always be our incredibly brave and feminine hero. We know somewhere you are dancing to a dreamy big band song under the stars in Paris.

Her parents, a brother, David I. Farnsworth; and two sisters, Mildred Brown and Marian Getting, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter Jill Tsu and two granddaughters, Jenna and Jodee Barnes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Methodist Church, 711 Main St.. Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.