Helen Whitney, 87, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 12, 2024, in her apartment at Wedgewood Terrace in Lewiston. She was born to Ray and Nancy Johnson on Dec. 3, 1936, in Moscow. She grew up on a farm/ranch 5 miles north of Harvard. She enjoyed farm animals and country living.
In 1954 she married Gordon Whitney and they made their home in Potlatch for a few years. She worked as a secretary for Potlatch Lumber. They started their family with son Bill in 1957 and Mike in 1960. In 1958 they purchased their home and 80 acres just 3 miles from where she grew up. She got right back in the farm/ranch life raising cows, chickens, cats, dogs and gardening. She loved caring for the all the animals.
In 1997, they sold and moved to Juliaetta to get out of the snow and create an easier lifestyle. In 2004 they celebrated their 50th anniversary with live music, catered food, and a large turnout of family and friends. In 2011, her husband of 57 years, Gordon, passed away and she downsized and moved to Lewiston where she was able to live a few blocks from her mother Nancy. After her mother Nancy at age 100 passed she moved to Kinsale Apartments. There she made many friends and enjoyed lots of activities. They would meet daily for coffee, games and to solve the daily problems. In November 2021 she moved to Wedgewood Terrace where she met her family of caregivers and staff. They took great care of her until her passing.
Helen is preceded in death by parents Ray and Nancy “Warren” Johnson; husband Gordon; son Mike; and granddaughter Lezlie.
Helen is survived by son Bill and Mary Whitney, of Rathdrum, Idaho; and granddaughter Kellie and Paul Tomlison of Klamath Fall, Ore.
At her request there will be no services and her final resting place will be the Freeze Cemetery near Potlatch.
