Dr. Richard Helm

Dr. Richard K. Helm passed away on Tuesday January 31, 2012 in Yuma, AZ as a result of complications due to cancer. He was born to Erna and Michael G. Helm July 15, 1932 in Jamestown, North Dakota. The family moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota when he was six. He graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1951. He attended the University of North Dakota and graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1957. At UND, he was a member of the Beta Theta Phi fraternity. He served in the North Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a family physician for 12 years. In 1970 he entered a residency program in Radiology at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Following his residency he was on the staff at Emanuel Hospital and then moved to Polson, Montana in 1975. He practiced medicine in MT until his retirement in 1996. He was an Eagle Scout and an active member of the Lutheran Church. He loved the outdoors: back packing, water and snow skiing, fishing, and hunting. He is survived by Donna, his wife of thirty-seven years, as well as six children from his prior marriage to Ellen Moen: Jayne Helm Devlin, Michael (Shirley) Helm, Kurt Helm, R. Kent (Susan) Helm Jr., John Helm and Phillip Helm. Three stepsons: Scott (Melinda) Elder, Steven Elder, and Shawn (Katherine) Elder. He was preceded in death by his and Donna's son Christopher, his parents Michael and Erna Helm, his stepfather Orval Haynes, and his brother Dr. Ralph Helm. He is also survived by eighteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The memorial service is to be conducted in Spokane, WA, at two o'clock on Sunday, the 26th of February, in the chapel at Riplinger Funeral Home followed by inurnment beside his son at Fairmont Memorial. Memorials may be directed to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202 or The Hutton Settlement Scholarship Fund, 422 W Riverside Ave St. 931, Spokane, WA 99201-0302.