Helen Irene Rinearson's Obituary
Helen Irene Paulson Rinearson, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024 at her home in Clackamas, OR at the age of 97. Helen was born October 3, 1927 in Woodburn, OR to Isabella Gellatly Paulson and Oscar Ingval Paulson.
Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Leonard Everett Rinearson, Jr, her son, Peter Milton Rinearson, and her brother, Oscar Ingval Paulson Jr.
Helen is survived by her four children: Ingra Rickenbach, Carla Randall (Dave), Tom Rinearson (Dani), and Leonard Eric Rinearson; her eight grandchildren: Erica Driscoll (Spencer) , Adam Randall (Kara), Caroline Randall, Craig Randall (Whitney), Leif Rinearson (Sara), Megan Rinearson, Lyle Rinearson (Kylee), Anna Rinearson (Adam); 16 great grandchildren, her sister, Ilene Paulson Hayes, and her brother, William Paulson.
Helen described the greatest achievement of her life was to graduate from Oregon State College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics.
After staying home to care for her five children, Helen was a Home-Economics teacher in Oregon City, OR and Molalla, OR Helen served on Altar Guilds at St. Paul’s, St. Peter’s, and St. Luke’s Episcopal churches. She was the bookkeeper for the Keepsake Toys business that she started with Len during retirement. Helen volunteered in the office at The Village Retirement Center where she lived for 17 years gathering for meals and card games with friends. She loved to walk on the beach and play cards with her grandchildren. She and Len took several trips to Vienna with family members, because Len had been stationed there at the end of World War II, and they loved the city, the food, and the music and wanted to share the experience with others.
Those who knew Helen Rinearson will remember her for her calm demeanor, her smile, her kindness, her intellect, her sense of humor, her sweet rolls, and her love for her family.
The Celebration of Life service to honor the life of Helen Rinearson, will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 822 Washington St, Oregon City, Oregon 97045 at 10:00 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Housecall Providers either directly through their website: https://housecallproviders.org/donate-now/ or donations may be mailed to:5100 S Macadam Ave, Suite 200, Portland, Or 97239. Several staff from Housecall Providers shared stories about Helen with the family. They were thankful they had the opportunity to interact with Helen during the last 2 years of her life. They learned things from her and truly enjoyed her wit.
The family gives a special thanks to Almaz and Behn Haile of Happy Family Care Home in Clackamas, OR for providing a loving home and care for Helen when she could no longer take care of herself. You both shall forever be in our hearts.
As Helen was coming to the end of her life, her youngest son, Eric, aptly stated one day, “She taught us how to live, and now she is teaching us how to die.” When asked what she wanted her loved ones to know, Helen responded during her last days, “That I want them to be happy.” We will miss you Helen.
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