Helen Jean Steele Wilson
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Helen Jean Steele Wilson

  • October 20, 1928 - January 25, 2011
  • Payson, Utah
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Memories & Candles

“I am George Burgi and Darlebe Burgi's daughter. I just want to express my deepest sorrow for the loss of Helen. My dad was so very fond id her and...Read More » ”
1 of 12 | Posted by: Trish Burgi - St Augustine, FL

“It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks a year since you went back home to Our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to have...Read More » ”
2 of 12 | Posted by: Moira - Lehi, UT - Family Friend

“Dear Great Aunt Helen- You were always such a dear spirit and I always looked forward to visiting you and my relatives on family trips. You were...Read More » ”
3 of 12 | Posted by: Janae Magnusson - DE

“Dearest Shirley and family, I was sorry to hear of your sweet wife and moms death. I have so enjoyed my relationship with her over the years she...Read More » ”
4 of 12 | Posted by: Bonnie Ballard-Valdez - Payson , UT

“Helen was the most lovely woman I knew. I am very sorry for your loss because she truly was an elite spirit! I have great memories of her and how...Read More » ”
5 of 12 | Posted by: Lila Coleman Rawlings - UT

“Shirley & Family, Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I have such fond memories of times spend with your family as I...Read More » ”
6 of 12 | Posted by: Kris & LInda Christensen - Canton, MI

“What a beautiful, fun always smiling lady. Sorry I can't be there to offer my condolances. Happy for this opportunity. God Bless all of you her...Read More » ”
7 of 12 | Posted by: Dawna Stewart - Payson - Friend

“What a beautiful, fun always smiling lady. Sorry I can't be there to offer my condolances. Happy for this opportunity. God Bless all of you her...Read More » ”
8 of 12 | Posted by: Dawna Stewart - Payson - Friend

“Shirley and family. We were sorry to hear of the passing of our sweet friend. Helen was always so positive and happy. She has been greatly missed in...Read More » ”
9 of 12 | Posted by: Lamar and Katherine Losee - UT

“I will always remember Helen as a loving, hard-working, caring person. When I was in High School I loved to see her in the office. She was always...Read More » ”
10 of 12 | Posted by: Wendy Pope - Elk Ridge, UT

“Dear Wilson Family, Thinking of the good times your parents and our parents shared together. Your mother's picture overflows with the happiness she...Read More » ”
11 of 12 | Posted by: Kathleen Hogan Farr

“I just read of the passing of your mom and wanted to share my favorite memory of her. I taught at Payson High for six years beginning in 1983. ...Read More » ”
12 of 12 | Posted by: Nancy Wilson Head - washington , UT


Our beloved wife, mother, grandma, sister, friend---Helen Jean Steele Wilson, 82 passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. Even with her cancer she was an inspiration to us all, saying life was wonderful and worth living.

Helen was born Oct, 20, 1928 in Goshen, Utah to Raymond Duane Steele and Golden Blanche Sorensen. Helen loved growing up in the town of Goshen where her beloved father was mayor, educator and author of “Goshen Valley History”. Like her father, she embraced learning and excelled in reading, writing, penmanship and spelling bees. She had fond memories of ice skating on Howlers Pond and Goshen Dam, enjoying Easter Egg Hunts on Sand Hill with her family, and frequenting Milo’s confectionary store with friends. One of her special memories was working side by side with her father in the alfalfa fields on their 40 acres in Genola.

Helen graduated with high honors from Payson High School in 1946. She attended BYU where she was a member of the BYU volleyball team.

She married Shirley Wilson September 9, 1950. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple June 26, 1952. They are the parents of 7 children. Helen’s first love was her family--devoting herself to homemaking and raising her 7 children. Later in life, her greatest joy was being a grandma, loving and supporting her 32 grandchildren. She was a talented homemaker and beautiful seamstress. She was resourceful and hard working and capable of tackling any job such as book-keeping for her husbands upholstery business, gardening, canning fruit, painting the house inside and out while keeping it clean and attractive. Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling together throughout many parts of the world. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Dads love and devotion to our mother will always be remembered. During her life, among her many talents and hobbies, Mom embraced music. She played the piano and was 1st chair clarinetist in High School. She sang with the Goshen Singing Mothers at the age of 12 and sang most of her adult life in church and civic choirs, including La Nesta Chorus, and Payson Civic Choral. Helen was skilled at short hand, recording patriarchal blessings for the Stake Patriarch’s at age fifteen. Before she started her family, she was a longtime teller and stenographer at First Security Bank in Payson. After her children were raised, she worked at Payson High School for 14 years as a counselor secretary and later as a front office attendance secretary. In 2002 Helen was awarded the “PHS Distinguished Alumni Award”. She was a longtime member of the Payson Civic Jr. Cultus Club. Helen served in many church callings, including Visiting Teacher, Primary President, Relief Society 1st Counselor and teacher, Young Women Advisor, Primary Pianist and Compassionate Service Leader. Mom loved life and the people in it. She was a friend to all. She had unconditional love and possessed the ability to make a person feel loved and special. Mom was smart, wise and witty and had a fun personality; she was a good sport and laughed easily. We shall miss her sense of humor and clever sayings. Mom loved reading the scriptures. Her faith and commitment to the gospel made her a source of spiritual strength for all of us. She was and is a faithful daughter of God with a strong testimony of Jesus Christ who valued her membership in the LDS church throughout her beautiful life.

Survivors include: her husband, Shirley, Payson; children, David S. (Colleen), Santaquin; Dennis R. (Michelle), Cottonwood Heights; Diana (Dan) Steele, Elk Ridge; Lisa (Terry) Montague, St. George; Fran (James) Whitchurch, Half Moon Bay, CA; Doug (Jill), Payson; Kent (Loni), Spanish Fork; 32 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; siblings, Paul Duane Steele, Payson; Dorothy Blanche Wilkenson Burdick, Salt Lake City; step-siblings, Elora Hilderbrand, Mississippi; Carol Nielson, Chico, CA. She was preceded in death by: her parents; siblings, Louis Faye Rohrbaugh, Evelyn Elaine Done Pazzaglia; step-siblings, George Burgi, Eugene Webb; one grandson and 1 great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 29, 2011, 11:00 a.m., in the Mtn. View 5th Ward Chapel, 789 East Arrowhead Trail (700 North), Payson. Friends may call at the Walker Mortuary, 587 South 100 West, Payson, Friday, 6-8:00 p.m. or at the church Saturday, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Payson City Cemetery.