July 29, 1923 - November 12, 2021
Helen Lucinda Spicer went into the presence of her Saviour Jesus Christ on November 12, 2021. Helen was born July 29, 1923 at High River, Alberta, the first of Joel and Vera (Good) Reist's six children. Helen was raised on her parents' farm east of Aldersyde, attending the Mount View Mennonite Church, built on land donated by her grandparents, Silas and Lucinda Good.
When the family moved to a farm at Harmattan in 1938, Helen remained at Aldersyde for a time, as housekeeper for an uncle. In 1940 the Reist family moved to a farm that Helen's father bought at Westward Ho. Mennonite families in the area held services at the Westward Ho School, until the Mount Calvary Mennonite Church was completed. The little church was not ready in time for Helen's marriage to Elden Spicer, November 30, 1944. That event took place at the John Harder farm, northeast of Bergen.
The Spicers worked for Norman Cook north of Westward Ho. Helen raised huge gardens as well as flocks of chickens and turkeys. From these came tremendous meals, complete with homemade bread and desserts, enjoyed not only by her family but Sunday dinner guests.
She taught both Sunday School and Daily Vacation Bible School. Helen loved music, leading singing at church and taught herself to play the pump organ. This led to many evenings with the family singing around the organ.
In 1970 the farm was sold and the Spicers moved into Olds. For a time, Helen worked at the Olds Hospital, then with Elden as custodian at Olds High School. Most of her energies went into their home, her garden and grandchildren. At First Baptist Church, she was part of the prayer chain, Joy Fellowship and served as a deaconess for a term. For many years she assisted Donna Caush as the kitchen committee, organizing and producing extravagant meals for church attendees. For the last several years Helen's dementia advanced to the point that her memory was completely gone.
She was preceded by her parents, her son Marvin and her husband Elden and all her siblings. She is survived by her children, Larry of Great Falls, Montana, Judy (Dave) Olsen of Nanton, Carol (Lyle) Gorsline of Sundre, Joyce Hoey of Olds, Warren (Sherron) of Olds and foster son Peter (Delrose) Laxton of Airdrie; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Frances Spicer of Lacombe and Grace Reist of Tofield, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial service for Helen will be postponed until the spring of 2022. Donations in Helen's memory may be made to First Baptist Church Olds.
