Helen Beebe

Helen Edith Brooks Beebe was born on September 1, 1923, in Hamden, Connecticut, to John Alexander Brooks and Grace Evelyn Langdon. She graduated from high school in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1941, and attended the Swain School of Design in New Bedford. She served in the Navy WAVES during World War II. While stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she met and married Floyd Philip Hallstrom. They had two children: Susan Ellen Hallstrom and Gail Brooks Hallstrom. Their family moved many times over the next 17 years as Floyd continued to serve in the United States Navy. Helen was a skilled and dedicated homemaker. They were divorced in 1962, and she began work as a real estate salesperson. Over the remainder of her life she worked in many capacities including head resident at Brigham Young University and Ricks College, bus driver for handicapped students, dental office manager, and janitor. She moved to Post Falls in 2001 where she lived with her daughter, Sue. She has been tenderly cared for at Living Springs Assisted Living Home in Post Falls since July. Helen joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October, 1965, and found great joy through her Church membership. She served two full-time missions for the Church: from 1970-1972 in the France-Switzerland Mission and from1985-1986 in the Belgium Brussels Mission. She learned to speak French and served with honor. Helen married Martin Reed Beebe in March, 1979; they were divorced shortly thereafter. Helen enjoyed gardening, reading, attending the Temple, drawing, painting, cooking and baking. She used her days to bless and serve others. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers John Langdon Brooks and Richard Jamieson Brooks, by her grandson Marvin D. Ricks, Jr., and by her nephew Richard Jamieson Brooks III. She is survived by her daughters Susan Ellen Ericksen [married to Gerald W. Ericksen] and Gail Brooks Ricks [married to Marvin D. Ricks], and by her 14 grandchildren: Holly Ericksen McRae, Heidi Ericksen, Heather Ericksen Hansen, Wendy Ericksen Nelson, Laura Ericksen, Stephen Ericksen, John Ericksen, Bryan Ricks, Kimberly Ricks, Brent Ricks, Aaron Ricks, Adam Ricks, Kristy Ricks and Katherine Ricks. She is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren: Amanda, Sarah and Hannah Ricks, daughters of Bryan and Deanna Strain Ricks; Blake, Tyler, Carly and Sadie Ricks, children of Brent and Mollie Fowler Ricks; David and Megan, children of Holly and Daniel McRae; Benjamin, Christopher, Sarah, Matthew, James and Emily, children of Heather and Warren Kent Hansen; Eric, Rachel, Andrew, Brian and Luke, children of Scott and Wendy Nelson; and Hallie, Brielle and Bailey, daughters of John and Audrey Ericksen. Helen died in Post Falls, Idaho on December 19, 2013. She will be interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls. The graveside service will be held at 10 AM on Friday December 27th, 2013, and a memorial service will be held that afternoon at 12:00 PM at the 16th Street meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Post Falls. Friends are welcome to join the family at both of these events. Memorials may be sent to the Church General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.