Helen Ensign Brown
1915 - 2010
Helen Wilkinson Brown died Sept. 25, in Friday Harbor, Wash.
An avid Scrabble player until the last few months, she often beat her son David, who visited her daily throughout her four-and-a-half year stay at Islands Convalescent Center, where she was loved by residents and staff alike.
Born Helen Ensign Wilkinson on Aug.10, 1915, in Great Falls, to Fannie and Sam Wilkinson, she always considered herself a “Montana girl.”
She graduated from Carlton College in 1936, majoring in music. While there she met husband Kenneth, who taught philosophy at nearby Macalester College. Their first son John was born in 1940. After Kenneth joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, and was sent for training in intelligence to southern California, Helen and their son moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she became soprano soloist at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Kenneth returned from the Pacific theater when WWII ended, and the family moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., where son David was born in 1946, and where Helen’s musical involvement continued. Among many activities, she was soloist at All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, and a member of the Santa Barbara Choral Society.
In 1957 Kenneth accepted a position at Midland School in the Santa Ynez Valley. While he taught Helen took on the duties of a faculty spouse, and assisted in the school library. Despite increasing mobility challenges as a result of progressing Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disorder, a hereditary peripheral neuropathy, she was always a game trouper in that rustic environment.
After 16 years at Midland, the couple retired in Santa Barbara, where they remained active in adult education, the Shakespeare club, and musical pursuits until Kenneth’s death in 1990.
Helen lived independently until a stroke at age 89 required moving into assisted living near son John’s home in New Mexico, and two years later to the facility in Friday Harbor.
Helen was preceded in death by her younger sister Elizabeth Esch.
She is survived by her sons, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
At her request, no services are planned. Friends are invited to make a charitable donation in her memory to the CMT Association.
Joan Marie English
1957 - 2010
Joan Marie English, 53, died at Eastern Washington State Hospital, Medical Lake, Wash., on Sept. 24. After a lengthy battle with Huntington's' disease she is now at peace. Huntington's Chorea, a genetic defect is also known as early onset Alzheimer's.
She was born Aug. 22, 1957 in Helena, daughter of Dr. R.J. and Carol English.
Since graduation from Beaverhead County High School, she lived in Kirkland, Wash., where she attended Northwest Christian College, Missoula, Dillon and Spokane,Wash.
She married Barry Jenkins in 1975. Two daughters were born to this union, Sarah Marie and Kathleen Ann. Joan and Barry were divorced in 1993.
Music filtered into every area of Joan's life. She was an accomplished musician of piano, guitar and voice. She taught Suzuki method on the piano. She was a staunch supporter of Prolife, working with Birthright of Missoula for many years.
In Spokane, she volunteered at City Gate serving meals to the homeless. At Thanksgivings her daughters would join her in this endeavor. She worked with adults who had mental and physical disabilities using her gifts of music, sign language and laughter.
Joan's relationship with her heavenly Father was the focus of her whole life. She enjoyed being a counselor at Bible camps. Her commitment to serving others, and a genuine love of music, is reflected today in her two daughters.
She is survived by her daughters, Sarah Jakkola, grandchildren Christian and Caylah, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Katie (Robert) Eisenstein, grandchildren Nicholas and Isabella, Livingston; her mother; sisters, Susan (Scott Dahmer), Missoula; Christi, Stanford; Miriam (Mike) Walters; brothers, Mike (Natalie), Dillon; John, Billings; Stephen, Missoula; 17 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins, all in Montana.
She was preceded in death by her father; an aunt, Sharon English; and a niece, Rydel Ray.
Services will be held Oct. 9, at 2 p.m., at Grace Baptist Church, 1049 Laknar Ln., Dillon.
Memorials may be sent to New Hope Pregnancy Support Center, 112 S. Washington St., Dillon.
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