Obituary: Hellings, Doris Marie
The cause of her death was complications of Alzheimers.
Doris, daughter of Edward H. and Letia M. Kruegel, was born July 11, 1922 in Lewiston, Idaho.
After the death of her father in 1928, she lived with her widowed mother and family in Clarkston, WA.
She graduated from Clarkston High School, class of 1940, and subsequently completed her schooling at the Lewiston Business College.
With the outbreak of WWII, and the rapid development at the Hanford site, she moved to the Tri-Cities in 1943.
It was there that she served as secretary to the Pasco Superintendent of Public Schools, C. L. Booth throughout the war years.
Returning to Lewiston, Doris married Don Shook Feb. 14, 1946.
This marriage ended in divorce.
Doris relocated in Spokane, and it was there that she married Richard Leo Hellings on Oct. 1, 1955.
She was employed as secretary at the downtown office of Anthony, Baker and Burns Real Estate for several years.
While Dick and Doris had no children of their own, the untimely death of her older sister June Helpman in 1971, provided her with a special family.
She became a surrogate mother to the four Helpman children, and nurtured that cherished relationship throughout her life.
Early in their marriage the Hellings’ built and enjoyed a comfortable home on the Spokane south hill.
Doris was an excellent homemaker and delighted in keeping a stylish and well-organized home.
An avid bridge player, she played regularly with friends.
Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting and gardening.
After the death of her husband, she ultimately moved to the Rockwood Retirement Community, where she remained until her death.
Surviving members of her family are her nieces, Joan (Dana) Petersen of Lewiston; Marilyn (Ed) Arnot of Lewiston; Susan Morris of Spokane; and nephew, John (Debbie) Helpman of Lewiston.
Also residing in Lewiston are grand nieces, Kristi (Mike) Murphy, and their children, Michael and Madelynn; Amy Petersen, and her children Shania and Brooklyn Hildreth.
Her very special sister-in-law, Eva Gale of Creswell, OR, nieces Donna McConnon of Austin, Texas, and Glenna (Doug) Mahurin of Parkdale, OR.
Preceding her in death are her husband Richard Hellings, sister June Helpman, brother George Culton (Cully) Gale, and niece Judy Gale Wilks.
In 2008 she lost her special friend Maurice Schudel of Spokane.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at l:00 p.m. in the Social Hall at Rockwood South Hill - The Ridge, 2903 E. 25th Ave. Spokane, WA 99223.
Memorials may be made in her memory to the Rockwood Residents Foundation, Residents Assistance Fund, at the above address or Shriners Hospital, PO Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472.