Helen I Townsend Russell

Helen was born to Ernest and Elsie Townsend on Sept. 25, 1922, in Calais, Me., on the rugged Canadian border. She was the second youngest of eight children.

Helen is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 63 years, Donald C. Russell of Redding; son DeWitt Russell of Sacramento; daughter-in-law Joan Russell of Sacramento; and granddaughters Holly Russell of Santa Monica and Ashley Russell of Sacramento.

Helen met Don at a dance in New England after World War II, and they married on Sept. 25, 1947 – Helen’s birthday -- in Portland, Me. They lived in Idaho for a time before moving in the early 1950s to Los Angeles, where Helen was a wonderful homemaker who enjoyed participating in her son’s Cub Scout, Little League and school activities.

In the mid-1960s, the family moved to Santa Barbara, where Helen loved the ocean and the family’s outings to nearby beaches. In the mid-1970s, she and Don bought 36 acres of ranchland near Hayfork and spent the next 20 years building a beautiful homestead that included chickens, horses and a couple of steers. Helen cherished her granddaughters’ summer visits to “Twin Oaks.” In the 1990s, Helen and Don moved to a ranchette in South Redding, where they continued to keep horses.

Helen loved the outdoors her entire life. While they were still newlyweds, she and Don enjoyed packing into the Idaho wilderness on horseback. In California, they regularly camped, fished and hunted with family and friends.

Helen also loved family road trips, including some from California to Maine and back that included much of the old scenic Highway 66, and several from California to Idaho and back.

Though barely 5 feet tall, Helen had a big heart that more than made up for her small size. Her friendliness and cheerful sense of humor touched most everyone she met. In her last years, Helen loved stopping to look at babies in their strollers, and she always made a point of telling the mothers what beautiful children they have.

A memorial service is pending at Lawncrest Chapel in Redding.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mountain Caregivers Resource Center, 405 South St., Redding, 96001.