Helen Weinmeister Mueller, 93, died peacefully on June 10, 2017. Helen was born on June 2, 1924 in Nashua, Montana. Born prematurely, the doctor refused to let Helen’s parents name her, as he was convinced that she would not live. Helen, with the fierce love and care of her immigrant parents, Jacob and Sophie Weinmeister, determined otherwise. She slept in a shoe box on the warming oven and, too weak to suckle, was fed with an eye dropper.
Helen, the youngest of five children, was raised on a farm near Nashua. After graduating from high school, she moved to Seattle where she lived with her older sister Ruth Weinmeister Carter, and with Ruth’s family. She worked as a bookkeeper for the Seattle Transit Authority to put herself through college, graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in home economics. After graduating, she accepted a teaching job in Malta. Helen loved Seattle, but returned to Northeastern Montana to help her mother care for her father, who had developed multiple sclerosis.
In Malta, Helen met Glenn Mueller, an employee of the Soil Conservation Service. They were married on Nov. 11, 1952.
In 1956, Glenn accepted a job as assistant ranger in White Sulphur Springs. A year later, the family moved to the Meyer’s Creek Ranger Station in the Beartooth Mountains of south central Montana and in 1962 to Libby.
Helen raised three daughters and volunteered for many organizations. She was a leader for 4-H and Girl Scout, as well as a “room mother” while her girls were in elementary school. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School, and was a member of the women’s circle and the quilt guild. She volunteered with the Libby Community Center Thrift Shop for many years. She performed innumerable acts of kindness for friends, neighbors and those in need.
Helen was a great cook and baker. There were always homemade cookies available at the Mueller home. She was a gifted seamstress, sewing her clothes and those of her girls through their high school years. She patiently taught them to cook and sew. (Some of these lessons took better than others.) In her 50s, she took up quilting and made many beautiful quilts.
Helen took an interest in politics. She served as an election judge for many years. When Glenn was elected to the state legislature in the early 1980s, Helen joined him in Helena where she was active in what was then the Legislative Wives group.
Whether surviving her premature birth, putting herself through college, raising three girls, or enjoying many years with Glenn, Helen was characterized by determination, independence and compassion for others. She retained her sense of humor and wit, even as she slipped away due to Alzheimer’s disease in recent years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; by her four siblings, Erica Weinmeister Bishop, Victor Weinmeister, Ruth Weinmeister Carter and Ida Wienmeister Morrison; and by her great-granddaughter, Libby Kosterlitzky.
She is survived by her husband, Glenn Mueller; three daughters, Glenda Mueller Christenson (Tim Christenson) of Springfield, Virginia, Sally Mueller (Richard Opper) of Helena, and Ruth Mueller (Daniel Poli) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Christ Care Fund. This fund supports the employees of Immanuel Lutheran Skilled Care Center who provided loving, compassionate care to Helen. Checks can be made out to Christ Care Fund and sent to Immanuel Lutheran Communities, Development Office, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell, MT 59901.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.