LouAnn Helms, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on August 17, 1937, to Waldo and Ethel (Moss) Leach. LouAnn’s childhood was shaped by adventure, from her early years in Sheridan to her time in Bremerton, Washington. She eventually returned to Sheridan to live with her grandmother, where her love of the outdoors blossomed. A skilled marksman from a young age, LouAnn developed a passion for hunting.
She completed her secondary education in Sheridan and, during high school, discovered her talent for sewing, which would become a lifelong skill. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, LouAnn’s youth also led to exciting experiences in Texas and Illinois. In the 1950s, she learned the craft of hat-making using pheasant feathers and sold her creations for extra income. LouAnn also honed the art of tying flies, which she sold to sporting goods stores.
After attending Sheridan Community College and working at First National Bank in Sheridan, LouAnn met William (Bill) Helms at the wedding of Ester and John Kawulok, where she served as Maid of Honor, and Bill was the Best Man. The couple married at LouAnn’s childhood home on Illinois Street in Sheridan. Together, they moved to the Tensleep Fish Hatchery, where Bill worked for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as a Fish Biologist. The couple’s early days were filled with motorcycle rides between Tensleep and Sheridan until they became parents to Steven, after which a pickup truck replaced the motorcycle as their primary means of transportation.
LouAnn and Bill's adventures continued when they relocated to Pinedale, Wyoming, where they initially lived in an Airstream trailer before building their first home together. The couple welcomed two more children, Christine and Charles (Brian), during their time in Pinedale. It was here that LouAnn began exploring new hobbies like cooking and baking with sourdough,
gardening and canning, while also continuing her fly tying and hat-making businesses. She created handmade clothing for the family and enjoyed camping trips in the mountains around Lander, where the family would gather each year for a special steak dinner at Wiggins Fork.
In 1966, Bill's work took the family to Lander, Wyoming, where LouAnn embraced new roles. Daughter Kathy was born in Lander joining the family clan. LouAnn worked at the Lander Public Library and later at Lander High School. Throughout her life, LouAnn’s creativity was evident in her hobbies—she made stuffed animals for children, including beloved characters like Kanga, Eeyore, and Winnie the Pooh. She also continued to craft hats and flies while raising her growing family.
In 1978, the family moved to Lusk, Wyoming, where LouAnn worked as a substitute teacher and later became the High School Secretary for 17 years. Following her retirement, LouAnn pursued photography, especially enjoying capturing the beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Bill retired in 2000, and they returned to Lander, where they worked together to finish building their home. LouAnn became an accomplished photographer, selling her work at regional vendor shows.
Bill and LouAnn shared their lives with many beloved dogs, and LouAnn even aspired to train their border collies to dance. Her love of hunting inspired her culinary talents, and she became known for her signature dishes—breaded elk steaks with onion gravy, rabbit with a sour cream, mushroom, and caraway sauce, and canned homemade venison mincemeat.
After Bill’s passing in 2017, LouAnn faced significant health challenges. Following a heart attack and triple bypass surgery, she moved to Billings, Montana, where she recuperated at her sister, Nancy, and brother-in-law, Lance's house. Eventually she would move in with her son Steven and his wife, Darla. It was in Billings that LouAnn experienced one of the most profound adventures of her life—asking Jesus into her heart on November 4, 2018, and being born again. Her newfound faith brought deeper meaning to her life, and she fervently prayed for her family’s spiritual well-being. During this time, LouAnn also became a church board member, created floral arrangements for church services, traveled to Iowa and Bristol Bay Alaska, experienced new foods, experimented with freeze drying various foods, developed her yard sale negotiation techniques, and had many other great adventures.
In her final months, LouAnn’s strength and faith remained unwavering as she battled pancreatic cancer. The family is deeply grateful to the nursing and hospital staff for their exceptional care during her last days. LouAnn is survived by her four children: Steven (Darla), Christine, Brian, and Kathy; eight grandchildren: Jason, Josh, Jennilee, LoRae, Ty, Zachary, Landon, and Payton; sister Nancy (Lance), and nieces Brooke (Rob) and Lisa (Drew), as well as many great grandchildren, great nieces and a great nephew. She is also mourned by numerous friends and relatives who were touched by her kindness, creativity, and love.
LouAnn's legacy will live on through the many lives she touched, and she will be forever remembered for her adventurous spirit, her love of family, and her deep faith. A memorial service for LouAnn will be held at 11 a.m. on December 14, 2024, at East Gate Wesleyan Church, 625 Mattson Lane, Billings, MT 59105. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to East Gate Wesleyan Missions.