Lyle David Helfer
Lyle David Helfer, 90, of Fort Smith, died under Hospice Care with St. Edward Mercy Medical Center.
He was born March 2, 1920, in Wilder, Idaho, to Charles Homer and Nina Marie Pierce Helfer. In 1924, he moved with his parents, and aunt and uncle and grandparents in a three covered-wagon caravan from Wilder to Washington State, eventually settling in Goldendale in 1938. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in February 1942 and served three and a half years during World War II including 30 months in the Asiatic Pacific Area. He was a radio operator for a forward observer team in the Aleutian Island, Kwajalein Island, Leyte Island in the Philippines and on Okinawa Island. After his discharge, he received an appointment from Washington State Governor Langley to the Washington State Public Service Commission which regulated State Transportation.
Lyle married Marcia Kyle in Walla Walla, on July 1, 1956. In August 1956, he went to work for the Interstate Commerce Commission and retired in 1980 as the ICC State Supervisor for Utah. He was domiciled in Spokane, Portland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Wisc., and Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his wife returned to the Walla Walla, Valley.
Lyle was a lifelong member of the Walla Walla Elks Lodge 287, American Legion, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Milton-Freewater, Ore. Golf Club, R.S.V.P., and Walla Walla Pioneer and Historical Society. He was an honorable man who, during his lifetime, reached out and helped many people.
He is survived by his wife Marcia of the Home; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, surrogate daughter, Francine Locati.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Lylene Helfer; a son, Gary Lyle Helfer and a foster son, Larry Lynn Price; two sisters Erma Jean Fleming and Charlotte Holland and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private memorial will be held at a later date and cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith and Herring-Graseclose in Walla Walla.
Memorials may be made to the River Valley Regional Food Bank P.O. box 4069 Fort Smith, AR 72914
To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
