Roberta P. (Caylor) Helmuth

Roberta P. (Caylor) Helmuth, 76, died unexpectedly, March 12, 2012, at her home in Wasilla.

At her request, no services are planned.

Roberta was born June 1, 1935, to Robert and Hattie (Klaprat) Caylor in Minocqua, Wisc. Roberta was the oldest of five children, graduating from Minocqua High School. She then attended Madison General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1955 as a registered nurse.

She married Arthur Helmuth in 1956 and in lived in Madison, Wisc., where she worked part-time at Madison General Hospital. After moving to Anchorage in 1976 with her husband and three children, she was employed by the Alaska Department of Social Services at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. She started as a psychiatric nurse and moved up to institutional education coordinator. In 1984, she earned a bachelor’s of science in Human Resource Management from Alaska Pacific University, and in 1993 a master’s of science in Vocational and Adult Education from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Roberta enjoyed a number of different crafting hobbies, fishing, camping and gardening when she was not indulging in her passion for caring for her family. Roberta was an avid genealogy fan and spent many happy hours tracing her family tree, including back to two different passengers on the Mayflower. Much to her surprise, she also found she was the most direct descendant of Joseph Parker, a member of Gen. George Washington’s Commander-In-Chief’s Guards during the Revolutionary War. After their retirement, Roberta and Arthur built a home in Wasilla and moved there in 1997.

She will be missed by all.

Preceding her in death was her brother, Robert Caylor; and son, Brian.

Surviving are her husband, Arthur Helmuth of Wasilla; son, Craig (Katherine) Helmuth of Fairbanks; daughter, Valerie (Richard) Johnston of Anchorage; and a grandson, Robert Johnston, of Anchorage; brother, John Caylor of Dayton, Maine; sister, Carol (Gabriel) Alarcon of Fowlerville, Mich.; sister, Susan (Keith) Jannusch of Sun City West, Ariz.; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

In lieu of gifts, memorials or tributes, go hug your own mother.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family. Online obituary and guestbook may be visited at alaskanfuneral.com.