Helen Catherine Tribble passed away peacefully Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Bishop Place in Pullman, at the age of 101. Born in Moscow on July 23, 1922, she was the daughter of Sam and Elizabeth Bouton Jensen and was the fourth of six children — brothers Robert, Kenneth, Donald, and Raymond Jensen and sister Marjorie Severance.
Helen attended one-room schoolhouses through eighth grade in Southern Latah County, first at Thorncreek School, then the Snow School and finally at the Blaine School. She graduated from Moscow High School and attended the University of Idaho for a short period of time.
She met Lewis Tribble at the Kennedy Ford Skating Rink. They married June 8, 1941, at Gifford, where the ceremony was performed by Lewis’s grandfather, Dudley Tribble. They enjoyed sixty-five years of marriage until his passing in 2007.
Helen and Lewis moved to Portland, Ore., for three years during World War II where Lewis was an advanced welder at the Kaiser Shipyards. After Portland, they moved back to Moscow where Lewis worked at different garages. In 1954, they started the Moscow Body and Glass Shop where Helen was often seen behind the counter greeting customers and doing bookwork.
Helen was mostly a full-time homemaker; however her true passion was being a mother. She always supported and participated in her children’s activities including being a Brownies and Girl Scout Leader, Room Mother and assisting with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Helen and Lewis and their four children, Ron, Sharon, Connie and Gary, were actively involved with horses competing in gymkhanas, junior rodeos and going on family trail rides. Helen herself competed in gymkhanas for numerous years earning dozens of trophies on her favorite horse Nugget. She and Lewis enjoyed square dancing, cards especially pinochle and saltwater fishing off the Pacific coast.
Helen started bowling in 1955 and bowled every year for sixty-three years. In May 2018, she was inducted into the Palouse Regional Association Bowling Hall of Fame. She made many good friends bowling and went to several national bowling tournaments. She was a lifelong member of the United Church of Moscow. She was an avid supporter of the Idaho Vandals and was especially happy when Joe Vandal made a surprise appearance at her 100th birthday party.
Helen is survived by her children Ron (Cheryl) Tribble, Sharon Sheahan, Connie (Jim) Hurd, and Gary (Cassie) Tribble; grandchildren Michelle (Jim) Hardman, Michael Johnson, Shane (Valerie) Tribble, Ashley Tribble, Elizabeth Lemos, Nikki Tribble and David (Marie) Gourley plus 13 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom loved all her family including her many nieces and nephews. She was always a very positive, genuinely sweet and caring person. Helen’s children wish to thank the wonderful staff at Bishop Place and Gentiva Hospice in Pullman for taking excellent care of Mom.
A private family celebration of life is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any donations in Helen’s name be directed to a local volunteer fire department or to the United Church of Moscow, 123 West First St., Moscow, ID, 83843.
Short’s Funeral Chapel of Moscow is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at shortsfuneralchapel.com.
