Helen was born April 7, 1950 in Chihuahua, Mexico. She was the fifth child of a family of eight. Helen married Ben Thiessen Sept. 6, 1970, and together raised two daughters. Helen suffered an aneurysm in 1971 and never fully recovered. In 1973, she had her first surgery when she developed cancer of the womb. Then in 1979 was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ben and Helen made several trips to Vancouver before the doctors diagnosed her with a brain tumor. Jan. 1986, Helen had her surgery and radiation treatment which was followed by two other surgeries. Since then her health had been slowly deteriorating and she depended on total care by the family. She suffered from two strokes before she went to live in The Pines March 2000, where they could take better care of her. Jan. 2003, Helen went to the hospital because of pneumonia and later went back to The Pines where she wanted to be. The staff in The Pines took such good care of her. Helen enjoyed the many camping trips and outings she had with her family. Helen peacefully passed away Feb. 9, 2003. Left to mourn is her husband Ben, two daughters, five grandchildren, four sisters, three brothers, and her father and stepmother.