Helen B. Chadwick Beal

Longtime Alaska resident Helen B. Chadwick Beal, 89, died in her sleep May 21, 2012, six months before her 90th birthday.

She was born Nov. 22, 1922, in American Fork, Utah. Helen was a resident at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer.

A memorial service in her honor is at 1 p.m., June 14 at the LDS Matanuska Ward, 560 West Arctic Ave., Palmer. Burial services were June 1 in American Fork Cemetery in Utah.

Helen graduated from American Fork High School in 1941. She attended Utah State College in Logan, Utah. Her plan was to specialize in nursing, but she stopped her training because of the start of World War II. Helen married Floyd Carl Beal on June 9, 1943, at the Salt Lake Temple. Helen and Floyd (Bud) and their four children drove the long and dusty Alaska Highway to make their home in Palmer in May 1956.

After her husband died in 1987, Helen continued to live in their family home in Palmer until 2010, when she moved into the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer. Helen resided in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley for 56 years.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was especially proud of the role she served as primary president in the Alaska Canadian Mission under the direction of Stewart and Leola Durrant, who also were lifelong friends.

Helen was active with her children and their many activities. She established an atmosphere where her children and their friends always felt welcome. After her children left home, Helen participated in the local support groups for the Alaska State Fair, diabetes and Parkinson’s.

Her many talents and interests included being a top-notch knitter, making sweaters and many hand-knit socks for family members — especially Christmas socks. She crocheted several Afghans, sewed clothing and quilted bedspreads and baby blankets. Helen enjoyed photographing family members and working in her yard with her flower garden. She was a faithful letter writer to family and friends, always remembering birthdays and other special dates of each. She never missed taking note of occasions, which included an extensive list for Christmas cards. As her sight began to fail, she enjoyed keeping up friendships by visiting over the phone and their personal visits. Helen was known for her sharp clear memory and wit.

Preceding her in death were parents, Glen Chadwick and Clara Mirriam Butt Chadwick; husband, Floyd Carl Beal; two brothers; three sisters; and three great-grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, Dan (Bev) Beal of West Valley City, Utah, Teresa (John R.) Garland of Greenbackville, Va., Terry (Susan) Beal of Eagle River and Greg (Ginger) Beal of Palmer; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; brothers, Tim (Leila) Chadwick and Clark (Julia) Chadwick; sister-in-law, Thora Chadwick; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements were entrusted to Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory Wasilla.