Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Biggerstaff Porter, Helen

Age 93

BIGGERSTAFF PORTER, Helen January 5, 1921 - August 21, 2014 Helen Louise Biggerstaff Porter passed away August 21, 2014 following a fall while tending her garden.

She was 93.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 6th at Heritage Funeral Home in Spokane, WA.

Following the service, Helen will be inurned alongside Harold W. Biggerstaff, her beloved husband of 67 years.

Helen was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She was a Cub Scout den mother, Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader and more recently gave of herself as a hospital volunteer and community SCOPE leader.

Dancing, traveling, playing games, and spending time with family and friends were her passions.

Helen was born on January 5, 1921 in Aberdeen, Washington to Harley and Suzanne (Zollinger) Ham.

As a child of the depression, life was hard.

She lost her mother at the age of three and was raised by an aunt and uncle in Portland, Oregon.

She graduated from high school in 1939 and attended North Pacific Business College upon her graduation.

She met Harold (Hal) Biggerstaff at a dance lesson during this time.

It was love at first sight and they married in 1940.

That first dance continued throughout their lives.

To watch them dance was pure magic and they shared their love of dancing with many.

Helen held various legal and executive secretarial positions for over 25 years before touring the world with Hal.

They accepted assignments in Hawaii, Africa, and the Middle East with the Soil Conservation Service and the US Agency for International Development.

While Hal educated the people in agriculture, Helen taught them English.

After several years of service they were evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan when the Russians invaded.

They were truly Goodwill Ambassadors during these years.

In 1980 they returned to the U.S. and retired in Hayden Lake before, ultimately, settling in Spokane Valley.

Helen was blessed to have found another love in her life and married Edward Porter, of Spokane, on August 20, 2009.

We have no doubt Ed kept her in our lives for five additional years before her unexpected death.

Helen will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her four children: SandyMiranda (Michael), Anita Stafford, Larry Biggerstaff (Joannie), and Nola Norlander (Quint); 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was also blessed by her extended family bond with Ed’s three children: Jan Jones (Rick), Jim Porter (Debbie), and Judy Rasmussen (Gary); his nine grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Raymond Ham; husband, Harold Biggerstaff; granddaughter Sara Louise Biggerstaff and great-grandchildren Charlie Smith and June Presley Smith.