Helen Louise Alsgaard Sargent

Helen Louise Alsgaard Sargent, age 94, passed away April 28, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was born April 11, 1926 to Charley and Viola Culbertson in Denison, Texas. Helen’s daddy died before she was 1 year old. Her mother remarried to Odes Wilkening who had a son, John, 4 years older than Helen. She grew up in Missouri and Nebraska. Odes worked for the Corps of Engineers and they moved to work on Mud Mt. Dam in 1939. Odes, Viola, 2 boys and a dog came out West by car. Helen age 14 and her little sister Jean came to Enumclaw by train. When the job at the dam was finished the family was sent to Anchorage, Alaska. When Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, they were put in blackouts and on alert. As government workers their family was evacuated back to the states. They returned to Enumclaw and lived in the small apartments by Pete’s Pool then to Fish Lake where the 2 girls slept in the neighbor’s attic. Helen attended Enumclaw High School and graduated in 1944. Her best friend in high school was Dorothy Alsgaard. They went to work at Boeing together then entered the Virginia Mason School of Nursing in the Cadet Nursing Program. Right before graduation in 1947, Helen eloped with Dorothy’s brother Robert Alsgaard, because you could not be married while in the cadet program. The minister was Robert’s brother Russ Alsgaard. Helen worked nights at Community Memorial Hospital and walked to work from the South end of town because they didn’t have a car. Bob owned People’s Cash Store which was later named Alsgaard’s Apparel. Helen went to work at Medical Cole Street Clinic for Dr. Ralph Zech, she later worked for Dr. Paul Gunderson, then she worked for Dr. John Erickson and Dr. Zech at the same time.

For their 40th anniversary in 1987, Helen and Bob were planning a trip to Hawaii, but Bob developed a brain tumor and died 9 days later. In 1991 Helen married Robert Sargent the minister at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Helen retired and they were married 9 years before he died in 2000. Helen has lived at High Point Village for 3 ½ years.

All of her life Helen was an excellent nurse and mother, who was involved with her church circle at Calvary and became the oldest member. She traveled to many places in Europe with her 1st husband Bob through their daughter Celeste with TWA. She and her second husband Bob traveled to New Zealand, Scotland and England.

Helen is survived by her four daughters, Debbie Hargan (Ray), Joliene “Bunny” Kacer (John), Celeste Alsgaard and Rise’ Hudec (Mike); sisters, Jean Trask and Jennifer Lewallen; brother-in-law, Bob McNeill; sister-in-law, Pauline Wilkening; 7 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and stepchildren, Ken Sargent (Arlene), Brenda Jeter, Ann Ellis (Paul).

She was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Robert Alsgaard; 2nd husband, Robert Sargent; brothers, John, Joe, and Gail Wilkening; in-laws, Dorothy McNeill and Russell and Betty Alsgaard.

Helen was the most patient, thoughtful, kind person. She loved to call people by name and she loved to send birthday cards. She will be missed by all. Her favorite scripture which she raised her family on was Proverbs 3: 5 & 6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

We will see you in Heaven. Love in Jesus from us all.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Presbyterian Church at a later date. Please share a memory or condolence with Helen's family on the tribute wall.

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