Helene Elizabeth Olsen Saunders

Helene Elizabeth Olsen Saunders, passed away at age 91 on Sunday, November 22, 2009. She was born on March 3, 1918 to Lee Elmo and Catherine Fletcher Olsen of Young Ward. She was the eldest child and daughter in her family. She graduated from South Cache High School. On November 23, 1938, she with her sweetheart, Le Roy E. Saunders entered the Logan LDS Temple and were married for time and all eternity. Helene has been a devoted homemaker and mother, serving her family as well as those in her community. She was a registered recreational therapist for 14 years at the Sunshine Terrace in Logan, Utah. During her tenure at the Terrace, she brought joy and happiness to the lives of its residents, playing the piano, teaching them new skills and always providing a friendly, listening ear. She was a compassionate and loving friend. As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Helene served in many capacities in all of the women organizations, and spent 35 years in the Primary, including Primary Stake President. She always expressed gratitude for the ability to serve and especially enjoyed her 55 years as a visiting teacher. Helene, along with Le Roy, served as missionaries at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in San Diego, California. They later served at the Logan LDS temple as officiators for 14 years, a calling they both loved. Helene was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and enjoyed the associations she had there. Helene was known far and wide for her beautiful flower gardens. She loved each flower and was happy to share them with her neighbors as well as the occasional stranger who just happened to stop by to admire her beautiful display. Helene had a lovely voice and sang with the Choralee and Bel Canto Choruses for many years as well as her ward and Relief Society Choirs. She and Le Roy traveled extensively. They traveled to Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Hawaii, the Holy Land, Egypt, Canada, Alaska and the United States, but she was just as happy and content to sit on her porch and visit with her good friends and neighbors. She was a wonderful cook and always had tasty desserts and meals for anyone who came to visit. Helene was preceded in death by her husband Le Roy and a son Randall, who was killed in Viet Nam. She is survived by six children: Yvonne L.R. Earl, Kathryn M. Don Larsen, Karren Richard Farnsworth, Janet Quin Pinson, Vince Ann Saunders and Vic Kelley Saunders. She had, at the time of her passing, 25 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two grandsons and a granddaughter. Helene and Le Roy also have an Apache son, Rod Velarde Jo and their three children, of Dulce, New Mexico. Mom is also survived by her three brothers: Robert, Warren and Christian Olsen. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 30, 2009 at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan. Friends and family may call Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .