HELEN HENDERSON, Obituary

CHESTER Helen Julia "Tudy" Henderson, 75, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2002, at a Chester hospital.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery.

Helen was born on Jan. 27, 1927, at Joplin to Julia Lintvet and Benhard "Ben" Brandvold. She was called Tudy by family and friends. She grew up in the Joplin community and received her education through the 11th grade there. She transferred into Chester for her senior year and graduated from Chester High School in 1945. During her high school years, Tudy was active in drama and cheerleading.

In 1947, she married Robert "Bob" Keith. They had two daughters and lived in Chester until 1965, when they moved to Great Falls. After her daughters graduated from high school, Tudy took a secretarial job for Blue Cross of Montana in Great Falls. The Keiths divorced in the 1970s.

Tudy married John "Jack" Henderson on July 20, 1974, at Grangeville, Idaho. They made their home in Glendale, Ariz., where Jack worked as regional manager for Petrolane Gas Service. Following Jack's retirement in 1989, they purchased a home in Sun City, Ariz., and lived there in the years that followed. They enjoyed traveling to Oregon and Montana in the summer months to visit family and friends.

Tudy had open-heart surgery in 1996, but continued to be energetic and vivacious until suffering several small strokes in the summer of 2000. The Hendersons moved back to Montana in 2001 and Tudy entered the Chester nursing home for extended care. In February her health improved enough and she was transferred to the Wheat County Estates to be with her husband.

Tudy was baptized as an infant and confirmed in her teens at the Chester Lutheran Church. She was a past member of the Chester VFW Auxiliary and had served on various PTAs. She was active in bowling leagues in Chester and Great Falls.

Tudy was an avid reader. She loved novels, Reader's Digest and Guideposts. She enjoyed music and dancing and liked to cross-stitch, crochet and knit. During quiet times at home, Tudy enjoyed jigsaw and crossword puzzles and television. During social times, she enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle and bridge. She collected birdhouses.

Tudy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Bennie, Donald and Leonard Brandvold; and sisters, Gladyce Romain and Betty Krejci.

Survivors include husband, Jack of Chester; daughters, Krystal (Don) Laas of Hillsboro, Ore., and Kimberly Kane and her lifemate, David Cantu, of Troutdale, Ore.; stepson, Curt Henderson of Phoenix, Ariz.; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; brother, Ken Brandvold of Great Falls; sister, Doris "Poppy" Austin of Forrest, Miss.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.