Helen Whitney

Helen Whitney, 92, Bemidji, MN, formerly of Jamestown, ND passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.

Helen Elliott was born to William and Sarah (Whitson) Elliott on February 21, 1920 in Jamestown. She attended grade school at Plano in the Marion, ND area and graduated from Greenland High School. She attended the New York Hairdressing Academy in Fargo, ND and was the owner/operator of a beauty shop in Valley City, ND for three years. She was united in marriage to Clarence Whitney on November 3, 1940 in Jamestown. They lived in Jamestown, moving to Ypsilanti, ND in 1942 and to Montpelier, ND in 1947.

She was assistant postmaster in Montpelier and later worked for Stutsman County in the Auditor's office, retiring in 1982 after 24 years of service. Clarence passed away in February of 1995. She has resided in Bemidji since June 2007.

She loved being with her family, having coffee with her friends and her church work. She belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church in Jamestown and First Lutheran Church in Bemidji.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Darlene (Lloyd) Hurley, Bemidji; daughter-in-law, Carlyn Whitney, Bemidji; 5 grandchildren, Michael Hurley, Umatilla, OR, Mark (Angela) Hurley, Salmon, ID, Annette (Jim) Duerock, Coeur d'Alene, ID; Christy (David) Harvey, Bemidji; Ryan Whitney, Bemidji; 6 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, John Elliott, Tulsa, OK and Robert Elliott, Jamestown.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Gerald Whitney; and sister, Margaret Miedema.