Helen Janette Furberjuly 16, 1922 — June 26, (Keddy) 2017

Helen was born July 16, 1922 , the second daughter of Roy and May (Skundberg) Keddy. She arrived in the music room of the Skundberg farmhouse south of Beardsley, Minnesota. She was greeted by older sister Louise and, within a decade, two additional siblings, Bernice and brother John, rounded out the family.

The Keddys moved to Minneapolis as a result of the Depression with her parents' pursuit of work. Mom graduated from Marshall High School in 1940 and, later that year, she completed cosmetology school.

The Keddy family ran a boarding house in the Twin Cities back in the late '30s and a young boarder by the name of Bill Furber caught my mother's eye. Mom and Dad were married 67 years when Bill died in 2007.

Moving from Minnesota in 1949, Mom and Dad raised their family in South San Francisco, moving to Calistoga, CA in their retirement.

Helen and Bill were always present as volunteers with youth groups and activities, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Jobs Daughters, DeMolay, Methodist Youth Fellowship and High School sports and music programs. Mom and Dad were also lifetime members of Eastern Star.

Mom's career with United Airlines allowed her and Dad a life of adventure. The worldly travelers visited all the continents with the exception of Antarctica.

Bill and Helen Furber had four children: Diane, Janice, Richard and Kathleen. Diane passed away in 2005; Janice lives in Calistoga; Rich and wife Holly reside in Red Lodge; and youngest daughter Kathy and husband Dale Jacobsen live in Eagle Mountain, UT. All totaled, Helen has 16 grandkids, 40 great-grandkids and three great-great-grandkids.

Mom chose not to have a funeral service but will have a family memorial in Minnesota, where both her and Dad's ashes will be laid to rest.

Our family would like to thank St. John's Lutheran Ministries and Hansen Cottage staff for a safe, comfortable and enjoyable setting for her short stay in Billings. The loving care provided by Compassus Hospice was deeply appreciated along with the thoughtful attention provided by Dr. Coon.