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- [S927] Obituary.
Lorene Helbling, 89
Nov. 2, 1921 - Jan. 2, 2011
Lorene Alice (Rach) Helbling passed away Jan. 2, 2011, to join the Lord and deceased members of her family. She was 89.
Lorene, fondly known as Rene, was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Moscow to Dora and Henry Rach. She attended grade school and high school in Moscow and was a member of the first class to graduate from the new Moscow High School in 1939.
She graduated from University of Idaho in 1943 with a teaching degree. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and remained active as a member of its board of directors for many years.
While in college she met and fell in love with Ray Helbling. They were married the week following her graduation from the University of Idaho and celebrated 62 years together prior to Ray's passing in 2005.
The Helbling family moved to Idaho from North Dakota and established International Harvester farm implement stores in Moscow, Pullman, Wash., and Genesee where Ray was an active partner in the business.
Rene and Ray were blessed with four children (two boys and two girls) and were active as leaders in Boy Scouts and Camp Fire.
The family enjoyed snow skiing and spending time at their lake cabin.
After her youngest child was in school, Rene returned to U of I and studied art and water color. She became a well known water color artist with many of her paintings being displayed and sold in local and regional galleries. She was best known for her landscapes of old area barns and the golden Palouse wheat fields.
For more than 20 years Rene and Ray enjoyed spending their winters in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where they made wonderful lifetime friends from all over the United States and Canada.
She was a charter member of the Palouse Watercolor Socius founded by her professor Alf Dunn, Idaho Watercolor Society and she received numerous blue ribbons and the Grumbacher Award in juried shows. She was also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Women's League, Alpha Chi Omega Alumni Club, Chapter AB of PEO and Bridge Club.
Rene was preceded in death by her parents, Dora and Henry Rach; sister Edna (Peggy) Hamilton and her husband John; sister Myrtle Rach; and her daughter, Janice and her husband Ray.
Lorene is survived by three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild and her beloved cat, Mink.
The families include: son Tom and wife Judy of Kirkland, Wash., their daughter Heidi and husband Mark Snell of Naples, Italy, their son Mark, wife Darci and son Ethan of Spokane, Wash.; daughter Nancy Thiessen and husband Bob of Sacramento, Calif., son Ryan Keller and wife Morgan, Coeur d'Alene; son Greg, wife Kathy and their sons Brett and Brandon of Coeur d'Alene. Other relatives include the extended Helbling family.
Services were held Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Coeur d'Alene Homes and Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Moscow. Rosary preceded the funeral Mass. Burial was at the Moscow Cemetery. Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials can be made to St. Mary's Catholic School in Moscow, Coeur d'Alene Homes in Coeur d'Alene or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.
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1921 - 2011 (89 years)