Helen Jane Colville West, 92, died at home of congestive heart failure. She was born July 9, 1927 to Joseph Daniel Colville and Laura Elvira Larson (Rimensberger).
She graduated from Pomona College and went on to teach elementary school. Early in her teaching career, she toured the world which led to a life-long love of travel. She married Johnnie Ralph West May 31, 1968 and acquired 4 stepchildren, 3 boys J. Melvin (Emily), James Barry (deceased), Geoffrey Lee (Sherry), and Christell (James Barclay) Farnsworth.
Ice cream was an essential theme in her life with family’s businesses Colville Ice Cream (Joe Colville), Laura Larson’s Ice Cream Shop (Laura Larson), Salt Lake Ice Cream and Fendall’s Ice Cream (Joe Rimensberger). She relished it nearly every day and always remained stylishly trim.
She unobtrusively pursued her interests and passions of playing the piano, bridge, gardening, showing dogs, traveling with her husband and friends, and raising prize winning irises.
She was preceded in death by her husband, half-brothers Carl (Darlene) and Dick (Lee) Rimensberger and is survived by much loved nieces and nephews, children, and grandchildren.
She wished a heartfelt thanks to Sunrise of Holladay, their passionate staff and the many friends made there, Amy Flynn, NP for her delightful and loving care, Caregiver Support Network and their dedicated staff and a very special thankyou to Kent for years of terrific, supportive PT and Ryan, RN for his expert, long term caring and kind nursing.
Helen requested that there be no services due to the Coronavirus. We sincerely hope that your loving memories of her will bring the closure you seek.
She will be interred at Larkin Sunset Lawn with her loving husband, Johnnie.
Helen lives a couple of streets away from me in Sugarhouse. My roommates and I loved to go visit her. She would let us play her piano and gave us fruit from her yard. We helped her make toffee. She shared her love of dogs with us. She was so kind.
