Helen Young

Helen Young, 73, of Lloyd, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at the Big Sandy School Auditorium. Burial will follow in Big Sandy Cemetery. The family has requested that memorials be made to the North Central Cattlewomen’s Scholarship Fund in care of Paulette Keller, 5180 Crown Butte Road, Chinook, MT  59523. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements, and you can leave your memories and condolences at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Helen was born on Feb. 12, 1940, at her Aunt Ann Kalanick Livers’ home in Big Sandy to Michael and Evelin (Ophus) LaBuda. She was raised on the family farm outside of Big Sandy, moving to Big Sandy her junior year in high school, when she got a job and an apartment. During her high school years, she served as a dairy princess, was a majorette twirling her baton, was active in 4-H, and became a beautiful seamstress. She met Jack Young at a dance in Lloyd in 1961, and the couple married in 1963.   

Their union was blessed with three boys, and they raised them on the family ranch in Lloyd. Helen worked on the family ranch alongside Jack for many years, cooking for her family and their hired men. During haying, she served as many as 15 to 20 for lunch and dinner, and she was a fantastic cook. She also worked as a clerk at School District 67 for more than 20 years, at the Chinook brand office for many years, and she and Jack put on the Chinook Kids’ Rodeo for more than 15 years. Helen was a member of the North Central Cattlewomen’s Association, acting as the first president to serve two consecutive years. She also was a member of the State of Montana Cattlewomen, and served on the board of the Cattlewomen’s Scholarship Fund.

Helen enjoyed sewing for many years, sewing her boys’ shirts all through high school.  She also enjoyed knitting, especially Christmas stockings and mittens, crocheting, and stamping. She always had huge gardens and loved to host family gatherings.  Helen was good with all animals, and especially raised chickens, turkeys, and geese, but she was not overly fond of gophers. In fact, she taught herself to shoot and enjoyed gopher hunting, especially with her grandchildren. Helen had a wonderful green thumb, and her house was always full of thriving plants. But most of all, Helen loved spending time with her family.  They were her life.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Janette Nicholson;  and her brothers, Bernard, Mike A. and Dennis LaBuda.

She is survived by her sons, Bill Young of Lloyd, Gordon (Sheila) Young of Chinook, and Nick Young of Nashville, Tenn .; her four grandchildren, Merle Young, Kevin Young, Casey Young and Emily Beard; her sister, Sharon LaBuda; and numerous nieces and nephews.