Elizabeth Helmericks Obituary

Longtime Durango resident Elizabeth Marie Helmericks died Monday, June 21, 2010, in Fort Collins. She was 85. In recent

years, she had suffered from Alzheimer's disease and generally declining health after heart surgery in 2005.

She was born to George and Edith Bowness Trickel on April 17, 1925, in Montrose. She was called "Betty" while growing

up but later was known as "Betts" by friends.

Mrs. Helmericks graduated from Montrose High School in 1944. She met C.J. "Jim" Helmericks Jr. in Montrose soon after

he returned from military service in World War II. They married June 9, 1946, in Montrose and soon relocated to

Tucson, Ariz., where Mr. Helmericks attended the University of Arizona on the GI Bill.

The Helmericks family moved to Durango in 1962. In the 1960s, Mrs. Helmericks worked as an administrative assistant

at the old Pinerock School near Trimble Lane, at the San Juan Basin Health Unit and, for many years, at the San Juan

Federal Credit Union, now known as Southwest Colorado Federal Credit Union.

When the couple divorced in 1969, Mrs. Helmericks began taking classes at Fort Lewis College, where she earned an

associate's degree in 1976. She then went to work in acquisitions at John Reed Library at FLC, staying until her

retirement in 2003 at the age of 78.

In Mrs. Helmericks' 27 years at FLC, she befriended countless students and made many dear friends while working at

the library. One of them, Bobbi Vagneur, provided critical personal care for her in Durango before it became

necessary for her to move to Fort Collins in 2007, where her son Steve and his wife, Kathie, assumed responsibility

for her needs. Mrs. Helmericks spent her last three years in nursing facilities in Fort Collins.

"She was a loyal friend, and a sweet and generous soul," Steve Helmericks wrote. "At peace with herself and her life,

she rarely complained about personal challenges. However, she was always there when someone else needed love or a

helping hand."

Following the death of her son Gregory of AIDS in 1986, Mrs. Helmericks began to contribute time and money in support

of AIDS research. Her family said she became a fierce supporter of gay and lesbian rights and shared unconditional

love and compassion with many in the Durango community.

In 1988, she participated in a march on Washington, D.C., to promote increased AIDS research and to show support for

those stricken with AIDS and their families. Mrs. Helmericks appeared briefly in the 1989 documentary "Common

Threads: Stories From The Quilt," where she was shown mourning her son's death during the Washington Mall display of

the entire "NAMES Project" AIDS Memorial Quilt, which included her son's quilt panel. It had been crafted earlier by

family and his partner, Paul Miller.

Later, back at FLC, she spoke at a campus-wide AIDS awareness conference, where her first-person account of the

ongoing devastation wrought by the AIDS tragedy made an impact on all who heard her, Mrs. Helmericks' family said.

She collected inspirational quotes and thoughts throughout her life, posting them at work or in her house and sharing

them with family and friends.

Mrs. Helmericks was preceded in death by her son Gregory Helmericks; and grandson Joshua Helmericks in 2007.

She is survived by her sons, Jim Helmericks of Durango and Steve Helmericks of Fort Collins; daughter, Becky Welcome,

of Medford, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has occurred. No services are planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to 4cGLAD (Four Corners Gay and Lesbian Alliance for

Diversity), P.O. Box 1656, Durango, CO 81302; or the La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 South Camino del Rio,

Durango, CO 81303 or at www.lpchumanesociety.org.

Online condolences may be sent at www.goesfuneralcare.com.