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Helen Jeannette Middleton
12/27/1917 — 01/17/2006
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Lamoni, Iowa
Helen Jeannette Middleton
Helen Jeannette Middleton passed away peacefully January 17, 2006 at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick, WA surrounded by her family.
Helen was born December 27, 1917 in Lamoni, Iowa and was the first of three children born to Leonard and Mildred Anderson Midgorden. The Midgordens had moved to Lamoni from the Seneca-Marseilles area of Illinois a few years before Helen's birth. Helen was valedictorian of her high school class and her family encouraged her to attend Graceland College in Lamoni. The offer of a salaried job in Ames, Iowa led the family to move to Ames in 1937. Thanks to the National Youth Administration program, Helen worked her way through Iowa State College graduating with a BS in Home Economics in 1939. She was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Nu academic honor societies.
Her goal had been to teach home economics in high school and she began in Bondurant, Iowa. She was assigned home economics, business arithmetic, and an adult cooking class, and she prepared hot lunches for students during the winter. She also met David William Middleton--then the high school principal--and began a relationship that would last through 64 years of marriage.
In 1944, David and Helen moved to Renton, Washington, where she had a short career as an aircraft mechanic building B-29 tail sections at Boeing. When the war ended, the couple moved to Wapato, Washington, where David returned to science teaching and Helen worked at home raising their two children, John William Middleton and Julia Ann McClelland.
In 1953, the family began building a home on Aster Lane outside of Wapato and Helen resumed teaching, becoming a half-time home economics teacher at Wapato Junior High. School. After picking up her fifth year of training, she began teaching full time and eventually moved to Wapato High School.
Throughout her teaching career, she was a strong advocate for vocational education and was elected one of the top five Home and Vocational Educational Teachers in Washington State. Wapato High School nominated her as one of the top 150 high school teachers in the US. She was a charter member of the Wapato Alpha Psi chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, national honorary sorority for women teachers, in which she was an active participant even after her retirement from teaching in 1975.
Sewing and reading were her favorite hobbies. After retirement, she volunteered with Meals on Wheels and--with David--was chosen Volunteer of the Year by the Ashue Grange. She put her knitting skills to work knitting over 2,000 hats and mittens over a six year period for Project Warm Up and was selected Yakima County Volunteer of the Year. She became an avid weaver working with David to create clothing and household items which are much treasured by the family.
Helen and David moved to Richland in 1998 to be near daughter, Julie and granddaughter, Kirby Phelps and her children, Lauren and Tyler Denslow-Phelps. Helen and David volunteered at the Richland Congregate Meal Site and Helen became an avid Seattle Mariners fan. David preceded her in death in August 2005.
She is survived by son, John, of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter, Julie, of Phoenix, Arizona, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
There will be no formal service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 and to Senior Life Resources Northwest, 8656 W. Gage Blvd #104, Kennewick, W A 99336.
The world is a much better place thanks to Helen and Dave Middleton. I feel honored to have know them and will always cherish memories of time with them in years past. Our prayers for peace, love and strength are with you all during this life transition. Take care..
Julie,I’m so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Again, know that I’m thinking of you and my heart goes out to you! Warm hugs! Janet Sherbahn Smith
I have such good memories of Helen Middleton. She was one of the best instructors at WA-HI. She had humor and intelligence. She taught information that was important. She made a life long impression.
I just want to tell you how much I liked Mrs. Middleton she was my Home Ec teacher and I truly enjoyed her. She taught us how to cut corduary and most of us always cut it wrong. Years pass and then it just becomes the cycle of life for all of us. Take care and God Bless.
Joanne Zimmer Lundberg.
I am sorry to hear of Mrs. Middlleton’s passing she will always be Mrs. Middleton to me. I was a student in her 9th grade class and can’t tell you how much I learned and how I have enjoyed all of it on a daily basis. She would have been suprised to know that at age 40 I became a middle school Home Ec. teacher and loved every minute of it. She was a wonderful role model.
And I did not know of your father’s death. He too had to deal with me in Chemistry and Physics in high school. Both of them were a credit to the teaching profession.
Mrs. Middleton was my 9th grade Home Ec teacher in 1967. I can remember very few teachers from Wapato Jr High, but I fondly remember Mrs Middleton. Her class was interesting, fun… and she taught practical and valuable lessons.
Had I known she was living in the Tri-City area, I would have visited her and told her what a positive influence she had on me. She has been in my thoughts many times over the years.
My grandchildren, who seem to have endless sewing repair needs, have asked me, “How do you know how to sew like that Grandma? You can sew anything!” I like to give credit where credit is due, so I tell them, “I had an excellent teacher long ago, and her name was Mrs. Middleton.”
I am so sorry for her family; their loss is great. But please take comfort in the knowledge that her sweet and gentle soul was a blessing to so many.
I am priviledged and honored to have known Mrs. Middleton.
Dear John & Julie: I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I have such fond memories of both of your parents. A special memory of your mom was Helen letting me gather eggs from the hen house. Our whole family loved those Scandinavian treats that she used to fix at Christmas, particularly because our mom was such a lousy cook! I have a krumkake iron and always think of Helen when I make those cookies. Mike and I live in Yakima and have two boys, Graham,17,& Vaughan,12. Mike’s the Executive VP at Yakima Federal and I’m the Risk Manager at Memorial Hospital. I bet you still think of me as a teen! Fondly, Melanie Gilmore
My condolences to Julie and her family in the loss of her Mother and Father. Both of these individuals were teachers who impacted my life by their actions. They treated their students with respect and expected that we all could be successful if we wanted and worked – and they were always willing to give additional time and instruction when you asked. I will always remember Mrs. Middleton’s smile and Mr. Middleton’s dry humor.
John, Julie and families–
I have many wonderful memories of your mom when I was in her Home Ec class at Wapato High School. To this
day when Patty Yearout Dills
and I get together and reminiscence about high school we always have a good
laugh about Patty’s sewing
project. She had gone to Mexico for several months and had to “catch up” when
she got back. Patty was all
thumbs when it came to sewing, but she did finish the project!
I majored in vocational home and family living in college and came back to Wapato to do my student teaching with
your mom and JoAnne VandenBrink. Several years
later I started teaching at the Junior high school in Wapato. Your mom was always very professional, supportive, and such a wonderful mentor and role model. I will always remember and admire her dedication to helping young people.
I taught with Dave and Helen at Wapato High. What great memories to share, plus being a weaver, too. and ADK member. My thoughts and prayers to you.
Glinda
The world is a much better place thanks to Helen and Dave Middleton. I feel honored to have know them and will always cherish memories of time with them in years past. Our prayers for peace, love and strength are with you all during this life transition. Take care..
Julie,I’m so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Again, know that I’m thinking of you and my heart goes out to you! Warm hugs! Janet Sherbahn Smith
I have such good memories of Helen Middleton. She was one of the best instructors at WA-HI. She had humor and intelligence. She taught information that was important. She made a life long impression.
I just want to tell you how much I liked Mrs. Middleton she was my Home Ec teacher and I truly enjoyed her. She taught us how to cut corduary and most of us always cut it wrong. Years pass and then it just becomes the cycle of life for all of us. Take care and God Bless.
Joanne Zimmer Lundberg.
I am sorry to hear of Mrs. Middlleton’s passing she will always be Mrs. Middleton to me. I was a student in her 9th grade class and can’t tell you how much I learned and how I have enjoyed all of it on a daily basis. She would have been suprised to know that at age 40 I became a middle school Home Ec. teacher and loved every minute of it. She was a wonderful role model.
And I did not know of your father’s death. He too had to deal with me in Chemistry and Physics in high school. Both of them were a credit to the teaching profession.
Mrs. Middleton was my 9th grade Home Ec teacher in 1967. I can remember very few teachers from Wapato Jr High, but I fondly remember Mrs Middleton. Her class was interesting, fun… and she taught practical and valuable lessons.
Had I known she was living in the Tri-City area, I would have visited her and told her what a positive influence she had on me. She has been in my thoughts many times over the years.
My grandchildren, who seem to have endless sewing repair needs, have asked me, “How do you know how to sew like that Grandma? You can sew anything!” I like to give credit where credit is due, so I tell them, “I had an excellent teacher long ago, and her name was Mrs. Middleton.”
I am so sorry for her family; their loss is great. But please take comfort in the knowledge that her sweet and gentle soul was a blessing to so many.
I am priviledged and honored to have known Mrs. Middleton.
Dear John & Julie: I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I have such fond memories of both of your parents. A special memory of your mom was Helen letting me gather eggs from the hen house. Our whole family loved those Scandinavian treats that she used to fix at Christmas, particularly because our mom was such a lousy cook! I have a krumkake iron and always think of Helen when I make those cookies. Mike and I live in Yakima and have two boys, Graham,17,& Vaughan,12. Mike’s the Executive VP at Yakima Federal and I’m the Risk Manager at Memorial Hospital. I bet you still think of me as a teen! Fondly, Melanie Gilmore
My condolences to Julie and her family in the loss of her Mother and Father. Both of these individuals were teachers who impacted my life by their actions. They treated their students with respect and expected that we all could be successful if we wanted and worked – and they were always willing to give additional time and instruction when you asked. I will always remember Mrs. Middleton’s smile and Mr. Middleton’s dry humor.
John, Julie and families–
I have many wonderful memories of your mom when I was in her Home Ec class at Wapato High School. To this
day when Patty Yearout Dills
and I get together and reminiscence about high school we always have a good
laugh about Patty’s sewing
project. She had gone to Mexico for several months and had to “catch up” when
she got back. Patty was all
thumbs when it came to sewing, but she did finish the project!
I majored in vocational home and family living in college and came back to Wapato to do my student teaching with
your mom and JoAnne VandenBrink. Several years
later I started teaching at the Junior high school in Wapato. Your mom was always very professional, supportive, and such a wonderful mentor and role model. I will always remember and admire her dedication to helping young people.
I taught with Dave and Helen at Wapato High. What great memories to share, plus being a weaver, too. and ADK member. My thoughts and prayers to you.
Glinda
Dear Julie and John –
It’s been decades since we’ve talked; I’m not even sure if you’ll remember who I am, but Julie,you were my babysitter, and John, you endured a lot of kid horse play when we were around. I remember your mother and dad so fondly. Your mom, especially, had a profound influence on my life. Under her direction, I ran a pre-school in her high school home ec class. Now, 30+ years later, I’m a principal of my own school in Alaska. Please accept my condolences on both your parents. They were phenomenal influences in my life. My deepest sympathy and love to you. Roz Heffner Strang
That picture of grandma is wonderful because it is definately how I remember her, smiling and eager to hear about anything and everything we had to share. She will be missed and fondly remembered…
Guestbook for
Helen Jeannette Middleton