Helen Irene Schnee

Helen Irene Jacquemart Schnee, 86, passed away on November 30 in Shelby, surrounded by her family.

M emorial mass will be held Saturday, February 18, 2017, at 10:30 am at St. William Catholic Church.

Helen was born on February 28, 1930 to Peter Francis Jacquemart and Mary Buckley Jacquemart in Foley, Minnesota.  She was the fourth of six children.  The Jacquemart family subsequently moved to Shelby where Helen attended school and graduated from high school.  As a survivor of the Great Depression and a self-supporter, Helen almost always maintained more than one job at a time.

On June 12, 1953, Helen married David Jerome (Jerry) Schnee of Cut Bank.  As they started their family, they lived and worked in different communities throughout the state - Terry, Wolf Point, Cut Bank, and Great Falls - before they settled in Shelby.  There they raised five children.

Always a hard worker, Helen forged a career in the oil and gas industry where she was well known throughout north central Montana and in Colorado as an immensely capable and talented business woman.  She retired from the industry in 2008, but always missed being a part of the business world.

Lovingly known by family and friends as “Heldo” or “Hell-on-Wheels,” Helen’s family was the center of her world.  She and her home were the hub for family and extended family to gather for meals, laughs, and comfort.  Her grown children, their spouses, and friends gravitated to her relaxed warmth, generous spirit, and wonderful sense of wry humor.  As her family grew, her grandchildren would continue to bring their friends and family just to “hang out” and enjoy being with their “Ginga” as great-grandma, Helen, became known.

Helen dearly loved her siblings.  She maintained close relationships with them, their spouses, children, and grandchildren throughout her entire life.  Large, informal gatherings were a frequent means of fostering the extended network of family and friends that was always so important to Helen.

In 2002, Helen lost Jerry, her husband of forty-nine years.  She lost her eldest daughter, Terry, not long after the child’s birth in 1953. Terry’s twin, D.J. Schnee, Jr., Helen’s eldest son, passed away unexpectedly on February 1, 2016.  Helen was also preceded in death by her sisters, Patsy Brown, Georgia Krshka, and Peggy Mallette, as well as her brother, Pete Jacquemart.  Helen is survived by her sister, Jean Lyon of Kalispell (formerly of Shelby) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen’s remaining children include her son, Gregg Schnee and wife Deb (Dolan) Schnee of Shelby; daughter Kim (Schnee) Ruff and husband Randy Ruff of Shelby; Tim Schnee and wife Lisa (Anderson) Schnee of Kalispell; Todd Schnee and wife Theresa (Knaup) Schnee of Shelby.

Helen’s grandchildren are Shawn Ruff and wife Jyndia (Schaible) Ruff of Helena; Tyson Ruff and wife Jinx (Jewel) Ruff of Lewistown; Brandi Ruff of Lewistown; Cody Schnee and wife Lacey (Duffner) Schnee of Dillon; Brittany (Schnee) Kelly and husband Dugan Kelly of Paso Robles, CA; Alex Schnee of New York, NY; Andie Schnee of Eugene, OR; RJ Schnee of Missoula; Sean Hooper of Portland, OR; and Claire Hooper of Boise, ID.

Helen was blessed with six great-grandchildren who brought her great joy; Reid Ruff, Dash and Scottie Ruff, Jhett and Blake Schnee, and Kennedy Ruff.

Helen’s family extends its heartfelt gratitude for all who contributed to her care throughout her illness.  Her family also encourages memorial contributions to beneficiaries of the donors’ choice.