Helen Stanger

HELEN STANGER

Hopkinton

Helen I. Stanger, 92, of Mercer Island, Wash., formerly of Hopkinton, passed away Jan. 21, 2015, in Bellevue, Wash., after a brief illness.

Helen Irene Stanger was born Oct. 21, 1922, in Tipton, Iowa, to William and Jennie Parker. She received her elementary education in rural Iowa schools and graduated in 1939 from Springville, Iowa, High School. She went on to Lenox Junior College in Hopkinton, where she met her future husband at a church function.

She began her teaching career in a one-room country school, where she taught all eight grades. Later she taught fifth grade in Manchester.

Hellen enlisted in the U.S. Navy (WAVES) during World War II. The Navy sent her to New York City for boot camp, Bethesda Naval Hospital for hospital corps training, and to Seattle Naval Hospital, where she worked in physical therapy. She, along with 40 other WAVES, were chosen to return to New York City for advanced physical therapy and officers' training. The war ended during this training, so she spent V.J. Day on the streets of New York City. Those 40 WAVES were then returned to their original duty station, U.S.N.H., Seattle. She was honorably discharged in 1946 and immediately began teaching in Springville, where she taught until 1948.

On May 23, 1948, she was united in marriage with William "Bill" J. Stanger. She then taught in Hopkinton and Monticello until she became postmaster in Hopkinton in 1954. She resigned this position in 1963 when she and Bill moved to Mercer Island, Wash. She was a reading specialist in the Mercer Island Schools for 24 years, retiring in 1987. Bill passed away the same year.

Helen then became a Seattle Super Sonics "super fan," working in the office as a per diem specialist. She remained with the Sonics for 20 years.

She led a full and happy life – a full social calendar, visiting friends, attending ball games, gardening and traveling. She made many trips to Europe, Hong Kong, Belize and Japan. Her latest niche was to visit the Cayman Islands almost every winter.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 1987, as well as her parents and all of her siblings.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews, including her pride and joy, Emme (2 years). Her caregivers were her nephew and niece, Gilbert and Marlene Bortleson of Black Diamond, Wash., and her great-niece and fellow teacher, Cheri Bortleson of Issaquah, Wash. They were at her side when she passed away.

Graveside services, with military honors, will be in July in the Hopkinton Cemetery, with Goettsch Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Notice of date and time will be forthcoming.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Remembrances may be given to Camp Courageous, P.O. Box 418, Monticello, IA 52310; Hopkinton Library, Hopkinton, IA 52237; or a charity of choice.