Helen Anne Earley

Mass of Christian Burial for Helen Earley will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at St. Matthews Catholic Church, Gillette with Rev. Cliff Jacobson officiating. Internment will take place Friday, May 26, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at Valley View Cemetery in Broadus, Montana. Visitation will be held Monday, May 22, 2017, from 4 to 6 p.m. followed by a vigil and rosary at 6 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home in Gillette. Helen Anne (Johnson) Earley, 85 of Gillette, died Wednesday morning, May 17, 2017, at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital, in Sheridan, Wyoming, after living with heart failure for quite a few years.Helen was born May 15, 1932, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Oliver and Virginia (Lang) Johnson. Helen grew up in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Ashland, Oregon, and Billings, Montana, graduating from Central High School in Billings, Montana, in 1950. She married John James Earley in Billings, Montana, on November 18, 1950, and they built a life together 25 miles north of Broadus on the Powder River. At just 18 years of age, Helen left the paved streets and bright lights of Billings for the dirt roads and kerosene lamps of the ranch north of Broadus no telephones, no electricity, and the closest neighbor lived miles away. Love of God, John, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all extended family as well as many friends, but especially reading were her strengths and passion. Helen gave birth to 11 babies, losing a son to SIDS in 1957 and raising 10 kids on a shoestring budget, deer meat, homemade bread, big gardens, the Catholic Church, lots of love, and a great sense of humor. A die hard Democrat in a land of conservatives, Helen never backed down from rousing discussions on politics and religion. She was an avid reader and over the years loved many groups her prayer group in Broadus, book club, St. Matthew's Catholic Community and Red Hats. As a young woman and throughout her life Helen loved music, singing and acting, and she passed on that love and talent to many of her children. After John died in 1988, Helen left the ranch and moved to Billings, where she attended Montana State University Billings and obtained a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Secondary Education. While attending college, her wild side came out and she got a tattoo of the Sacred Heart, saying she needed to do something in her college experience that none of her kids had done. Helen moved to Gillette and worked different jobs including substitute teaching and volunteer teaching youth groups at St. Matthews. She spent a lot of time playing bridge and enjoying the companionship of her friends at the Senior Center and Cottonwood Terrace Apartments over the past few years. She always enjoyed attending her grandchildren's activities and spending time with her children. Helen is survived by three sons Mike (Lorri) Earley (Helena, MT), Matt (Cil) Earley (Gillette & Broadus, MT), Luke (Tracie) Earley (Broadus, MT) and seven daughters Mona (Steve) Mitzel (Leiter, WY), Mary (Don) Pertuit (Billings, MT), Susie (Blaine) Wilson (Gillette, WY), Laurie (Bernard) Barnaud (Belle Fourche, SD), Helenanne (Larry) Cathey (Gillette, WY), Tracey (Jason) Spoonemore (Billing, MT), Janey (Jeff) Maki (Wichita, KS), 47 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Jerry (Velma) Johnson (Helena, MT), Mike (Cindy) Johnson (Billings, MT) and brother-in-law Myron St. John (Helena, MT). She was preceded in death by her parents (Oliver and Virginia Johnson), husband (John), sister (Mary St. John), one son (Joseph), two grandsons (Joseph Barnaud and Mark Mitzel), and one great granddaughter (Aspen Pertuit). Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716