Helen R Riley Thiemann

Helen (Ann) Riley Thiemann went Home to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on January 6th due to infected pressure sores. She was 74 years old and died at the home of her beloved adult foster care family, Sam and Donna Babalai.

Helen was born 7/23/1939 to Charles and (Louis) Helen Riley in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Fox Lake in 1944 and Helen was raised there, graduated from Fox Lake High School in 1957. She received her B.S. in 1964 from U.W. Stevens Point and M.S. in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1966.

Helen worked for the state Dept. of Health in Oakland, CA for11 years as a Disability Examiner. Her own lifelong disability of cerebral palsy, complicated by a 1969 whiplash injury, forced early retirement in 1977. A love for the outdoors and small towns took Helen to Central Oregon in 1977. She enjoyed camping, traveling (especially in the Northwest), and her pets.

On June 29, 1980 she married Donald M. Thiemann in Redmond, OR. After 2 ½ years in Alturas CA the couple returned to Central Oregon and ‘homesteaded’ on 80 acres near Mitchell. They later lived in Redmond for 3 years, before moving to Gresham in July 1988. Don preceded his wife in death from Colon cancer on July 17, 1990. She then lived with friends until moving to a Gresham foster care home in early 1992.

Helen remained very active until 1987 when unsuccessful spinal surgery left her an invalid. Beginning in 1989 Helen became proficient on a computer using the eraser end of a pencil to strike keys, and later, as paralysis increased, she used mouth-activated systems. She dearly loved people, keeping in touch with many, many old friends via her computer until her death.

The most important event in Helen’s life occurred 7-23-78, when she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Survivors include her dear brother Bill Riley of Wautoma, WI, several in-laws, treasured nieces, nephews, & cousins plus many, many friends. Her beloved husband, parents, brother Jack & 2 infant brothers preceded her in death.

Memorial suggested contributions may be given to : The Berean Call, Box 7019, Bent, OR 97708.

(Written by HRT)

A memorial service will be on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 1 pm at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W. Powell Blvd. Gresham