Irma Helen Guse passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Yorkton & District Nursing Home, Weber House, with her family at her side. She was 90 years of age. Helen, as she was known to friends and family, was born on July 7, 1923, to parents, August and Amelia (nee Maser) Guse. She was the second youngest of eight children. She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Helen attended Burke School and Yorkton Collegiate Institute, where she graduated from the Commerce Class. Helen was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the St. Paul Choir. She was very active in the Luther League. Her faith was very important to her life, and Helen passed this on to each one of her God children. Her first job was with Shepherd Adamson Agencies in Yorkton, where she was employed from June, 1940 until the end of April, 1941. On May 1, 1942, Helen began her career with the Bank of Montreal in Yorkton, where she would remain faithfully employed until March of 1963. At this time, she made the difficult decision to transfer to the Bank of Montreal in Los Angeles, CA, where she worked in Operations. It was a big move for a gal from the prairies of Saskatchewan to be so far from home and family. Helen knew this would be the best way she could help support her family, and so off she ventured into the wild blue yonder. Helen moved into a man's world of employment. She often spoke of how few women one saw working in the bank. It was a difficult job for her, standing or sitting for the entire day, entering all those numbers into those books. There was no leaving when the day was over, as those books had to balance. She spoke of often staying late to finish everything to perfection. Helen was rewarded for her hard work. A transfer to San Francisco, CA, Bank of Montreal became available in 1979 and she snatched up the opportunity. She became the Bank of Montreal, San Francisco Branch, Internal Auditor. Helen was very proud of this accomplishment in the banking industry. She loved her work, and was very passionate about her banking. Whether Treasurer of St. Paul Lutheran Church or Erichsen Place Condo Association, Helen's precision with numbers made the books to be found in perfect order. She kept this meticulous manner of banking to the end of her life. Helen retired from the Bank of Montreal, San Francisco Branch, on August 31, 1982. She travelled back home to Yorkton, driving her 1970 Buick Skylark Custom all the way. This car was dark blue, with a black hard top, brand new tires, air conditioning and power steering Helen loved this car! It had one problem, however, in that it was a California car that had never seen a Saskatchewan winter! Following the installation of a block heater, this car was Helen's faithful transportation until 1988, when she finally gave in and traded it in for her new favorite vehicle, a 1988 Pontiac 6000, V6 fuel injection car that she fondly named her "Little Darling". Upon her return to Yorkton, Helen looked after her mother, the house, and the garden. She became chauffeur for her niece, Lora, and chief shopper for her sister, Ida. Helen enjoyed bowling with her brother-in-law, Jack, in the Golden Agers, although the early morning hour did not agree with her! The enjoyment of bowling in her retirement came naturally to Helen. In her youth, she was interested in sports, becoming very active in bowling, golfing and curling. These were sports she would watch on a regular basis. Shouts of sweep, sweep, sweep could often be heard coming from her living room as she watched the curling on television. She not only golfed, but also watched as much golf on television as she could. Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer were some of the pros whom Helen had actually seen play in person, and she was very proud of this. Helen and her sister, Dorothea, along with friend, Audrey Clements, were world travellers. They took many vacations together to places abroad. Her favorite country she visited was Egypt, with Africa a close second. They never got out of a country without a suitcase filled with souvenirs, trinket boxes, paintings, carved statues and animals, photos and slides. Family awaited with anticipation their visits back home so all could see and experience, through slide shows, the countries they had visited. Having never married and with no children of her own, Helen took great pleasure in her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and recently the great-great nieces and nephews. She treasured them all and loved to hear about their lives and receive their pictures. She also sponsored several children through World Vision. Helen's sister, Dorothea, was diagnosed at the age of 65 with Alzheimer's Disease. Helen became concerned that she was so far away from her and could not participate in her care, so in 2004 she moved Dorothea to Yorkton from Vancouver. She cared for her in her own condo until 2006, when due to her own failing health, Helen made the difficult, yet necessary decision to place Dorothea in the Yorkton & District Nursing Home. Helen dedicated her life to caring for her sister, daily being by her side for many hours. She was compassionate, loving and caring towards Dorothea, even ignoring her own failing personal health to do so. Her sister, Dorothea was her life. With Helen's passing, a long and remarkable life has come to an end. Helen was predeceased by her parents, August and Amelia Guse; her siblings, William, Arthur, Edna, Adeline and Ida; her brothers-in-law, Jack Lutcher, Paul Leinweber and Herb Hanson; sister-in-law, Joan Guse; nephew, Jack Leinweber; nieces, Lora Lutcher and Sharon Guse; niece-in-law, Norma Lutcher; great-niece, Julie Geib. She leaves to mourn her passing, her sister, Dorothea Guse; her sister-in-law, Lydia Guse; nephews, Norman (Elaine) Lutcher, Kenneth (Tammy) Guse, Ron (Naomi) Guse, Robert (Diane) Guse and Donald Leinweber; nieces, Janis (Ben) Schemool, Linda Guse, Lorna (Eugene) Brokopiw, Diana (Terry) Locke and all their families; as well as many cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews and numerous friends. In accordance with Helen's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of her Life and committal service will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Yorkton, SK. in the late spring, 2014. Donations in Helen's name may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to the charity of one's choice as tokens of remembrance. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
