Helen Letetia Ross, 87

Helen Letetia Ross, 87, died peacefully in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Tuesday May 7, 2019.

Services have been held.

Helen was born on July 29, 1931, in Concord, New Hampshire, to Reuben and Helen (Merrick) Murray. Helen and her six siblings grew up and attended school in Concord, N.H. After graduation, Helen enlisted in the Air Force and served as a weather observer stationed at Griffiss AFB. While serving in the Air Force, Helen met and married Antonio Louis Ross. They started their family on base and later moved to Roches-ter, New York, where they raised their five children: son, Nathan and daughters Debbie, Darlene, Leslie, and Toni. They later divorced.

Helen worked hard her entire life and always put others before herself. In addition to raising her children, after serving in the Air Force she joined the National Guard, followed by working as a civilian at Fort Devens, Mass., until her first retirement. She then moved to Arcadia, Fla., where she worked at Walmart for 15 years. As her health declined, the last five years of Helen’s life she lived in Sandpoint.

When she wasn’t working, Helen enjoyed sewing, crocheting afghans, gardening, canning, and baking, which she passed on to the next generations as a 4-H leader. She loved animals, especially caring for her two cats, road trips up north to see family, making Halloween costumes for her grandkids, and watching every episode of Perry Mason.

Helen is survived by her sister Ethel Acton; brother William Murray; son Nathan (Linda) Ross; daughters Deborah Ross (Herman Ackerman), Darlene Ross (Steven Patrick), Leslie (Rey) Nevares, and Toni (Charlie) Watts; grandchildren Amanda (Christopher) Dunn, Jessica Livingston, Corrine (Jacob) Apodaca, Nicole Nevares, and Curtis Nevares; and great-granddaughter Avery Apodaca, and numerous nieces and nephews who remember her affectionately as aunt “Teet.” She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Marguerite Williams, Mary Elizabeth Grimes, Miriam Massey, and Jacqueline Olin.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Helen’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.