Obituary for Helen Sargent Pedula
Helen Sargent Pedula was born on March 7, 1935 at home on the Sargent ranch, south of Shawmut Montana. She passed Dec 4, 2023. Helen attended Cherry Creek School near the ranch and went to Big Timber from 8th grade on. She was proud to be an SGHS graduate (Whoop de Do in 52). Helen wanted to be a nurse from the time she was a little girl. She fulfilled that dream/goal by completing a B.S. of Nursing at Montana State University in Bozeman (Go Cats Go). She met Bill Pedula at the state mental hospital at Warm Springs, MT (not as residents but nursing students.) She and Bill married June 30, 1957. They spent their first year together in Sheridan, WY and then moved to the old state highway camp at Burgess Junction atop the Big Horn Mountains. For nearly a year, awaiting the construction of a new highway camp, they lived in an old boxcar where she hauled water from a well, cooked on a wood stove, cared for an infant and had no refrigerator or electricity. Once they moved to the new camp (with new houses!), they spent the next six years enjoying the mountains and building lifetime friendships with coworkers and their families. Bill worked for the state highway department and they started their family of four girls.
In 1965 they moved to Livingston, MT where both Helen and Bill worked at the Livingston Memorial Hospital. Soon after, Bill began commuting to Big Timber to work as a night nurse at the hospital. One year later the family moved to a house north of Big Timber and eventually settled into and built many memories in the house on Anderson St. In 2007, Helen and Bill bought a house outside of town where Helen enjoyed her vegetable garden, flowers, apple trees, views of the Crazy Mountains, and had space to feed and entertain friends and family.
Helen was a pillar of the Big Timber community. For 37 years she worked at the hospital and/or the clinic. She taught childbirth classes and helped deliver the babies of multiple generations Big Timber residents. As a hospice volunteer and friend, she was there for many at the end of their lives as well. She greeted everyone with a caring smile and often a hug. Even in retirement, the hugs and smiles were her best medicine for all. She listened and truly cared.
Helen was active in her church, Homeland Circle, many bridge clubs, 4-H clubs, Circle group, the museum, school boards, and especially the Hospitality House. Helen’s phone would ring and she’d take the calls with her calendar ready to add an event that needed a pie, a friend, card partner or caregiver. She has taught many people how to make lefse. Shortly before she passed, she made sure that others knew how to make the chicken gravy for the annual church dinner. Her big heart, willing spirit, endless generosity and always knowing what to say provided a welcome feeling and encouragement to all. She took in strangers when roads were too bad for travel and families of accident victims. She welcomed many newcomers to Big Timber with a home made dinner and friendly conversation. We often heard later “Helen was the first to make us feel welcome here.”
Helen loved quilting and has a room full of fabric to match the many ideas she had. She enjoyed picking out fabric, laying out design and piecing quilts together. Putting on the batting provided another reason to have friends over, get some work done and enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. Many of her quilts were donated to Shodair Children’s Hospital; she pondered a long time over what fabrics would provide comfort and lift the spirits of the children there. She kept her mother’s memory alive with “Gudruda scrubbers” that the church ladies make for fundraisers. She taught others how to make them and, of course, always needed to invite a group to come out and cut net.
Helen had a variety of other interests including gardening, crafts, music, traveling, and gliding across the dance floor with Bill. She thoroughly enjoyed driving across the state to watch her daughters play basketball. When the boys were playing, she and Bill loaded up a car full of girls to go watch them. She followed all the local Herder teams with a passion, knew the players’ names and especially loved her MSU Bobcats.
If you knew Helen, you would know that she was always ready to drop everything for a game of cards, a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate and often provided some comic relief.
Helen is preceded in death by Bill (her husband of 54 years), parents Frank and Gudruda Sargent, brothers Bob, Bill and Donald. She is survived by her four daughters: Carol Olsen (Eric) of Big Timber, Kathryn Pedula of Honolulu, HI, Patricia Pedula-Boles (John) of Virginia City, MT, Barb Pedula (Chris Risser) of Billings MT; grandchildren: Kaci Krause (Steve), Kelli Linton, Joshua Olsen (Jennica), Amanda Farnsworth (Conrad); great grandchildren Russell Krause, Peyton Olsen, Elsa Farnsworth and 2 more on the way; special friend Ben Green; brothers Gordon and Jim (Alice) Sargent; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws great and small, far and wide – all of whom Helen loved dearly.
Memorial services will be held December 29th 2023, 2 pm at the American Legion Hall in Big Timber. A reception will follow. Interment will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Helen’s name are suggested to:
• Big Timber Hospitality House……
• Homeland Circle…..
• Helen Pedula Nursing Scholarship for SGHS student to attend Montana State
Helen Pedula Memorial Scholarship
Opportunity Bank of Montana
101 McLeod St
Big Timber, MT 59011
Monies can be:
1. hand delivered to the Big Timber or any other branch of Opportunity Bank of Montana. Just tell them it is for the Helen Pedula Memorial Scholarship
2. mailed to bank at PO Box 1189 Big Timber MT. 59011
3. mailed to Helen Pedula's post office box: Box 599 Big Timber, MT 59011 Checks and cash received via Helen's mail will be deposited into the scholarship fund.
Thank you for helping Helen to touch the community for many years to come. She would be so pleased to know that you are supporting education and her chosen field of nursing.
• Or a charity of your choice
To plant a tree in memory of Helen Sargent Pedula, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Memorial Service
Friday
29
Dec
2:00 PM
- 3:00 PM
American Legion Post #19
110 East 3rd Avenue
Big Timber, MT 59011
Reception
Friday
29
Dec
3:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
American Legion Post #19
110 East 3rd Avenue
Big Timber, MT 59011
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