Helen Lucille Irish Battien, 83
Our dearest mother and grandmother Helen Lucille (Irish) Battien passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, in Spokane, Wash.
Helen was born June 24, 1924, to Bloom and Dorothy (Ventling) Irish at the family home in Dover, Idaho. The family moved to their Dufort farm in 1932, where Helen attended Morton and Long schools.
Helen and her sister Irene went to Sandpoint High School. There were no buses, so they had to live in a small apartment by themselves while they finished high school.
Helen received her registered nursing degree at St. Joseph Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. Helen had to sell her cow to buy her watch that she needed for her nursing job. She also trained in the Army Nursing Corps in Sheridan, Wyo.
The war ended before she finished her training and Helen returned to the Dufort Farm to drive the team of work horses for her father's farm, while continuing her nursing career. Helen specialized in home health care nursing.
She met her beloved husband, Ed Battien, while taking care of Ed's father Gus Battien during Gus's illness. Helen married Ed on Nov. 24, 1951, and they farmed on Hickey Road in Oden until Ed's passing in 1994.
She was a dedicated member of the First Lutheran Church.
Ed and Helen frequently chaperoned dances at the Oden Grange Hall. Helen was a member of the Oden Busy Bees.
Helen's husband, Ed, was a supervisor to the Oden Water District and Helen loved to accompany him on his meter readings and tank inspections.
Helen loved to exhibit her cloth paintings, baked goods and her canning at the Bonner County Fairs. She always had fresh bread and pies ready for visitors and family to enjoy.
Helen's greatest joy was caring for her patients while working at Sandpoint Hospital, home healthcare and the Sandpoint Manor for 20 years. Helen loved to bake and decorate cakes for all occasions.
She also loved to do cloth paintings, read romance novels, solve crossword puzzles, feed hummingbirds and write letters of love and encouragement to friends and family.
As a young woman she loved the baby animals on the farm and later in life she loved eating jelly beans, KFC and chocolate. Her greatest loves were her family and friends.
Helen was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her family was the most important thing in her life. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren fiercely. She will be greatly missed by all.
Helen is survived by her son, Duane Battien of Malden, Wash.; daughter, Linda Entwisle and husband Dave of Newman Lake, Wash.; grandchildren, Klint Battien, Fla., Carmen Quintana of Michigan, Spencer Hall of Tualatin, Ore., Josh Hall of Provo, Utah, Spring Van Cleave and husband Dave of Otis Orchards, Wash., and their children; Jasmyn, Ethan and Grayson Van Cleave (great-grandchildren); Rex Hall and wife Danniele of Spokane and their children, Austin and Ayden Hall (great-grandchildren); sisters, Patty Kelly of Lewiston, Mickey Wagner (Clay) of Priest Lake, Irene Andrews of Hot Springs, Mont.; nieces and nephews, Lora Wagner of Spokane, Karen Bishop (Mike) of Sagle, Valerie Dickinson and Vic Irish of Kennewick, Wash., Brad Wagner of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; devoted friend, Wilma Erickson of Sandpoint.
Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend, Ed Battien; her parents, Bloom and Dorothy Irish; brother, Walter Irish; and nephew, Steve Kelley.
Family and friends are invited to sign Helen's online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Her family welcomes all who knew and loved her to join them Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Coffelt's Funeral Home, 109 N. Division Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864
Those wishing to send cards or notes to the family may do so by sending them in care of Linda Entwisle, PO Box 8, Newman Lake, WA 99025.