Obituary of Mary Patricia Helms

Mary Patricia Araas Helms, (Pat), was born January 14, 1926, in Bonneville, Wyoming to Godfred Olaf (Fred) Araas and Mary Ellen (Nellie) McGee Araas. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on September 10, 2022.

Pat is preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ellen and father Fred Araas, brothers: Kenneth Araas, and Dr. Fred Araas. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie Miller of Cody, Wyoming. She is also survived by her four children: JulieAnn Helms Horras, Joseph Helms (Lisl Ritzman), Mary Proaño (Fernando Proaño), Kay Kolahi (Mahmood Kolahi); and 16 grandchildren of whom she was very proud; and 27 great grandchildren. She devoted her love to her children all of her life.

Pat was raised in Wyoming. Her father was employed by the railroad causing the family to move often. She lived as a child in Illco, Powder River, Casper, Douglas, Greybull, and Frannie. She moved to Cody in 1938 and graduated from Cody High School in 1943. She joined the Cadet Nursing Corps and continued her education at St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Billings, Montana, graduating in 1946 with an RN degree. She worked at the Cody Clinic for Dr. Joseph Gautsch and Dr. Lew Johnson. She lived at home when she started working at the Cody Clinic until she was married at 23.   She resigned her position in 1974 and moved to Thermopolis in 1976, where she worked at the Wyoming Pioneer Home (a retirement home) for 15 years. She retired in 1981. After retiring, she served as a volunteer for the Wyoming Pioneer Home and for St. Francis Catholic Church.

She moved to Boise, Idaho at age 84 to be close to her family. She had never lived outside the Wyoming border.

She was a talented pianist entertaining her family with her playing and singing. She made a loving home for her children with her stability, steadfastness, prayers, and perseverance.  

Pat was a strong, faithful, evangelizing, cradle Catholic woman of prayer. She loved the Catholic Church that led her in her spiritual development. Her Catholic devotions were to The Holy Trinity, The Blessed Virgin (especially the Rosary), St. Joseph, St. Jude,  Blessed Padre Pio, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Sacred Heart of Mary.  When feeling fearful she would pray to the Holy Spirit who would comfort her.  The bible verse that gave her strength was Isaiah 41:10.   “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

She prayed the Divine Hours daily with the Benedictine Monks in Richardton, ND. She found great comfort and compassion from her spiritual director Father John Legerski and the Holy Apostle Parish.

We are deeply grateful to God, Our Father for our loving faithful Mother.

Proverb 31:28 “Her children rise up and call her blessed.”

A vigil and rosary will be held on Tuesday September 20, 2022 at Accent Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho from 6-8:30 pm.

The funeral mass will be at Holy Apostles Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 10 am. Burial to follow at Dry Creek Cemetery.

Remembrances may be left for the family on Pat’s page at www.AccentFuneral.com.