Warrenton

June 11, 1939 — April 26, 2015

Helen Ann Falleur was born on June 11, 1939, to Francis “Perry” Teevin and Helen M. Welch Teevin in Seaside, Ore., and quietly slipped away surrounded by family at her home on April 26, 2015, at the age of 75.

Helen grew up in Seaside, Ore., on North Holladay, attending Central School, Broadway School and graduated from Seaside High School in 1957. She spent her youth playing baseball with the boys on a nearby corner lot, picking strawberries every summer at her aunt’s house and, during her high school years, she spent all of her time downtown “Cruising the Gut.”

Helen’s life was her children, all seven of them. When asked recently how she did it, she said she would do it all over again. Her door was always open to anyone, often taking in other kids. She was a coach, Girl Scout leader, taxi, chef, accountant, counselor, warden, school board member, seamstress and plumber. You name it, she did it.

She began her work career as a babysitter of the neighborhood kids and moved up to selling candy at Tom and Larry’s in downtown Seaside. During that time, she also took her mother back and forth to doctor’s appointments as her mother couldn’t drive.

After graduation, Helen was excited to hit the big city of Portland to attend Portland Business School. She graduated in 1959, and took her first real job at the First National Bank in Seaside. It was then that she began dating Don Falleur.

On May 20, 1961, Helen and Don were married at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, and would have celebrated 54 years of marriage this year. She joined Don in heaven just four days after his passing. She is survived by her children Reyne’ Foster, Mike and Jody Falleur, Suzette and Mark Bergeson, Monique and Richard Arnold, Tom and Emily Falleur and Chantell Falleur. To her, grandchildren made everything better. Christmases with them was something to behold. Her grandchildren, Marcie, Randie, Corrie, Kaylee, and Maggie Falleur; Danielle, Andrew, and Matthew Bergeson; Mackenzie, Troy, and Julianne Foster; and Elizabeth, Victoria, and Kenny Arnold, all survive her. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Sandy and Bill Bergerson; her brother, Tim Teevin; dear friend, Claudia Von Seggren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bob Teevin; and son, Randy Falleur.

Helen’s love of flowers was one of her greatest joys. She began arranging daffodil bouquets for her children to sell. She also enjoyed making tabletop centerpieces and making and selling pine cone wreaths at local craft fairs. As her children grew, she managed the business end of her husband’s company, F & B Logging, was a school board member for the Warrenton School District, and ran the floral department at Thriftway in Warrenton. She was happiest in the middle of arranging flowers for a wedding — her children’s weddings being spectacular.

She retired when the store decided to close. She said it was all for the best, as her grandchildren became her priority. She attended as many events as was physically possible, while still maintaining the office for the logging business up until her death. She also spent many hours tracking the family tree on both the Teevin and Falleur sides and sharing the lineage with her family. She was famous for her meals. To Helen, every day should be Thanksgiving. Many of her hay crew kids came back year after year just for her food.

She was endearingly referred to as “Sweet Helen Ann.”

She and Don will be buried together as they were married together, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, beginning with a rosary at 12 p.m. and Mass at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church at 120 Oceanway, Seaside, Ore. Private interment for family will follow at Ocean View Cemetery. A reception will be held May 1 at 4 p.m. at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds, 92937 Walluski Loop Road, Astoria, Ore.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Don and Helen Memorial Scholarship, Clatsop County 4-H Extension, 2001 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR 97103, or Anna and Abby’s Yard, a memorial park in Forest Grove, at Premier Community Bank, 2811 19th Ave., Suite A, Forest Grove, OR 97116.