The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Helen (Ottosen) Purdy passed away Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, at Fairfield Care in Fairfield, Wash. She was born January 26, 1927, in Fairfield, to Elmer and Olive Ottosen (Clark). She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1945 and Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1948. She married Ed Purdy in 1949 and moved to Seattle where she worked at Swedish Hospital. She moved to Grand Coulee in 1968. She spent many years working at Coulee Community Hospital and nursing home. She also worked at the Convalescent Center in Nespelem. Her nursing career included being the Director of Nursing, a midwife, and a teacher of nursing.

Helen loved to read and do crossword puzzles. She was good at baking and cooking. Blueberry pie and steamed chocolate pudding with white sauce were favorite treats of hers.

In 1996 she moved to Fairfield living there until her passing. She retired at the age of 75.

She is survived by a son, Craig Purdy of Coulee Dam; daughter Michelle Purdy of Spokane; granddaughter Amy Koon; grandsons Jason, Mark and Joel Baumgartner; and five great-grandchildren, Nathan and Madison Watt, August Koon and Russel and Evelyn Baumgartner.

A funeral service was held Friday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m., at Fairfield Presbyterian Church. A reception followed in the church social hall. Burial was at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Schanzenbach Funeral Home, Fairfield, was in charge of arrangements.