HELEN RUTH RAMBERG obituary

Helen Ruth Ramberg, 82,passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, Sept. 13, after a short stay at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre, Mont.

Helen was born April 1, 1927, to Henry A. and Mae (Turner) Kuhr at her grandparents' home in Chinook. Helen had an older brother, Jurgen, and a younger sister, Betty.They spent their childhood on the Kuhr ranch south of Chinook. Helen attended Chinook High School from 1941 to 1945, where she continued to enjoy her love of piano. She also played clarinet in the school band. After graduation in 1945,Helen attended Northern Montana College for two years to attain her medical secretary degree. After graduation at Northern she moved to Fargo, N.D., to work and while there she was called home due to a family emergency. She stayed on the family ranch for most of the next year to help take care of her father. In 1949, with her father healthy again, Helen went to work for Dr. Robert Leeds in Chinook, and while working there, she met and started dating Paul Ramberg who was employed at Farmers Union Oil. On June 6, 1954, while Helen was working for Dr. Leeds, she and Paul married and set up house in Chinook. In October of that year, Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army. Helen quit her job with Dr. Leeds in April 1955 and moved to Hawaii to be with Paul. They lived in Honolulu for 16 months and were blessed with their first child, Susan Marie Ramberg, on May 18, 1956. As was typical of the time, all of the Army wives were sent home on transport ships, and Helen and her new family arrived back in the States in October. Paul, Helen and Susie moved to the Kuhr ranch south of Chinook where Helen worked as a cook and Paul worked as a ranch hand. In 1958 they had their second child, a son, Dean Patrick Ramberg. Helen had a lifelong love of ranch life and took great pride in her home and family. She was an active member of the local Mountain Community Club and North Central Montana Cowbells. Susan and Dean were very involved in 4H, and Helen was a strong supporter of its activities, attending and hosting 4H meetings and making sure that the annual project books were complete and on time. It was during these years on the Kuhr ranch that Paul started his herd of registered Herefords and began breeding show bulls. In 1977, Paul and Helen purchased the Doughten ranch just outside of Chinook where they continued raising Hereford cattle until they retired in 1993. While on the Doughten place they had many great times, attending the local and regional Hereford and stockman's shows and tours as well as some events out of the area such as the Denver Stock Show. To say that these were golden years would be an understatement, and they had many fond memories of pool parties and other functions with friends. Being so close to town opened up some new opportunities, and Helen and Paul both joined bowling and golf leagues. Helen was always happy when around her friends and always cherished these memories. In 1993 they sold the Doughten place, bought a lot in Chinook and moved into a new home. From 1994 through 2007, Paul and Helen spent their winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz., where they enjoyed a mix of local snowbirds and new friends from around the U.S. During these years in Chinook, Helen continued to spend time on her yard and flowers and always enjoyed her new home. Helen is survived by her husband, Paul, of Chinook; brother, Jurgen Kuhr of Billings; sister, Betty Masten of Claremont, Calif.; daughter, Susan (Kenny) Olson of Billings; son, Dean (Leah) Ramberg of Bonney Lake, Wash., two grandchildren, Ethan Ramberg of Seattle, Wash. And Alissa Ramberg of Bonney Lake, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews. Helen had a strong faith and was a lifelong member of the Chinook American Lutheran Church. She will be remembered as a loving wife, devoted mother, patient, caregiver and faithful friend. Memorial services were held Sept. 18, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the American Lutheran Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.