Helene Byrne

Helene May Glover Byrne
1902 - 2013

Under the photo please place the words "Idaho Pioneer"

Our loving Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Aunt, Helene Byrne, passed away at the age of 110, on June 27, 2013 at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Helene was born in Harrison, Idaho, September 12, 1902, the daughter of Charles and Florence McClure Glover. She was the oldest of eight children, of which two sisters are still living.

The family survived the Great North Idaho fires of 1910 and 1917. Because the town of Harrison burned in 1917 Helene finished her schooling in Kellogg, Idaho, graduating from Kellogg High School in 1920. She then attended and graduated from Lewiston State Normal School receiving her teaching certification in 1922. While teaching in Hagerman, Id., she met Lloyd E. Byrne, a Buhl banker. They married in 1927 at the home of her parents in Harrison on the shores of Lake Coeur d' Alene.

Helene's life long passion for flowers and gardening began as a child playing in the meadows of wildflowers of North Idaho and continued the cultivation of beds of lovely roses at her home in Buhl, which she tended until the age of 104. She generously shared her roses for weddings, funerals and birthday's of others.

In 1989, Helene was appointed chairwomen of the Buhl City Parks Beautification Committee, that accomplished many worthwhile and lasting projects. At the age of 96, she was named Woman of the Year by the Buhl Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi for her committee work.

Helene was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Buhl, P.E.O. Chapter S, Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and the Mentor Club.

Helene was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; sisters, Leslie, Ora, Robin and brothers, Clinton and David.

She is survived by daughters, Patricia (Herb) Carlson of Nampa, Shirley (Jay) Anderson of Buhl; grandchildren, Julie (Steve McGregor) Leriget, Steven (Trisha) Leriget, Christine (Martin) Geisel, Curtis (Barbara) Anderson; five great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Beth (Bill) Johnson and Merle Flack.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday July 13, 2013 at the Buhl First Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: First Presbyterian Women's Association (PO Box 53, Buhl, Id. 83316 or the Buhl Public Library (215 Broadway Ave. N. Buhl, Id. 83316)

Helene's family gives heartfelt thanks to the kind caregivers of Evergreen Place in Buhl and to the loving and compassionate friends who have supported them through the good times and the long goodbye.