HELEN E. CAMPBELL

Longtime Mat-Su Valley resident Helen Ellen Campbell, 80, died Jan. 6, 2004, at the Pioneers' Home in Palmer.

In accordance with her wishes, no services will be held. Her ashes will be scattered near the Kenai River with those of her husband, Earl Campbell, who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Campbell was born Oct. 19, 1923, in Sheboygan, Wis., to Frederick Radtke and Mary Potter. She graduated from high school in Sheboygan in May 1942.

On May 24, 1942, she and Earl were married. In 1946 the family moved to Moscow, Idaho, where she was employed for a brief time as a bookkeeper for a lumber mill. In the early '50s, the family moved to Boise, Idaho. In 1956 they moved to Salt Lake City. They moved to Denver until 1976 when they moved to Wasilla.

She was a lifetime member of the Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. and spent many hours volunteering at the facility until she moved to the Palmer Pioneers' Home. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Pioneers' Home for making her final years pleasant and comfortable.

Her family wrote, "Helen loved traveling in the motor home to visit friends and relatives in Wisconsin and Colorado. She loved music and spent time entertaining the other residents of the Pioneers' Home playing the piano and singing. She loved to dance and will be remembered by us all for the great kisses and hugs which she freely gave to all."

Mrs. Campbell was preceded in death by her daughter, Gail, who died in infancy, and her husband of 60 years, Earl. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bonita and Ted Prudence of Wasilla; son, Gene Campbell of Anchorage; grandson, Sean Prudence and his wife, April, of Bothell, Wash.; granddaughter, Stacy Prudence; companion, Elmer Prater of Wasilla; great-grandchildren, Chloe McGehee and Ethan Prater; and many nieces and nephews in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Endowment Fund, Wasilla Area Seniors Inc., 1501 Century Circle, Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.