Obituary: Bondurant, Helen
Age 100
BONDURANT,
Helen
After more than 100 years of adventures, Helen Bondurant suddenly and peacefully passed away at her home in Pinehurst ID on October 16, 2012.
She was born on June 6, 1912 to Abner and Amanda Stonelake, immigrants from Finland.
Raised as the youngest child with five brothers, Helen learned young to farm, milk cows and work hard.
She graduated from Newell High School (SD) and attended Spearfish Normal College.
She taught in a one room school outside of Lead, SD before eloping on April 2, 1932 with the love of her life William Bondurant.
Together they farmed on the Arpan Flats near Belle Fource, SD before her husband went to work as a hard rock miner.
Through the years, Helen lived and worked in many communities in CA and AZ as he worked in the mines.
From 1952 to 1978, she lived in Wallace, Idaho and then returned to the Silver Valley in 1988, after living in Boise and Bremerton, WA.
No matter where they lived, Helen worked to help support the family.
During WWII, she was a Rosie the Riveter in the air plane factory.
Helen was a professional seamstress, sold Avon, and worked in retail.
She was active in many political campaigns and had never missed election voting in a presidential.
Helen was a loving, adventurous, woman with a great joy for life.
She had a vivacious spirit, and loved nothing better than to go on a great adventure or to play a good game of cribbage.
Helen was an avid gardener and loved the outdoors, especially camping.
As a Finlander, she was proud of her sisu-one’s will, determination, perseverance.
She also loved a proper sauna and enjoyed instructing the younger generations on how to take a sauna correctly.
One of her greatest adventures was traveling to meet relatives and to see the home farm in Finland at 97 years of age.
She is preceded in death by her husband William Bondurant, daughter Patty Dreyer, and grandson Jody Dreyer.
She is survived by her children Curt Bondurant of Bainbridge WA and Cheri Breidt (Frank) of Pinehurst ID, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend our appreciation to the staff of the Regency Pacific (Beehive) Assisted Living Center for their love and care.
In addition, the family is grateful for the wonderful services of the Hospice of North Idaho.
Please join us in celebrating the life and adventures of Helen on Saturday, October 27th, at 11:00a.m., at Our Savior Lutheran Church, In lieu flowers, the family asks that you take a senior to lunch, or donate to the City of Hope CA or Hospice of North Idaho.
Please visit Helen’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.
ENGLISH FUNERAL CHAPEL, COEUR D’ALENE, ID