Virginia Lois Helgeson Miller

April 21, 1921 – December 12, 2015

From Richland, WA

Born in Montfort, WI

Virginia Lois Helgeson Miller, 94, one spectacular lady, died peacefully in her sleep on December 12, 2015, in Richland, WA. She was born at her grandparent’s home in Montfort, WI on April 21, 1921 to Mabelle and Helmer Helgeson.  She graduated from high school in Elgin, IL in 1939. Virginia went to Business College and was working for the Wisconsin Corp of engineers at the Baraboo, WI Ordinance Works when in 1943 there came an opportunity to go to Hanford and to work on the Manhattan Project. It was free transportation, just the adventure for a young girl and a girlfriend. For a period of time she lived in the dorms in Richland, WA. Virginia and three girlfriends were the first women to move out of the dorms into a two bedroom prefab house on Sanford Drive; the same as single men were allowed to do. 

She said that if she had had the money she would have gotten a four year degree and become a school teacher and a gym teacher. 

But there was fate. She made the move to Richland in 1943; where she worked as a clerk/stenographer in the Finance Division at Hanford. It was there that she met the love of her life, John Henry Moore Miller. John was a chemist from Pennsylvania who transferred to Hanford after working for DuPont in Kankakee, IL and then at the University of Chicago with Enrico Fermi. Both Virginia and John were athletic. They met through athletics, where they both played basketball in the city leagues and John was her basketball coach. Virginia also played softball and was instrumental in starting women’s softball in Richland. 

Virginia and John were married the day after Valentine’s Day in 1946. To quote an article in The Richland Villager by the Sports Editor at the time, “Tomorrow we’ll see the uniting of two of Richland’s athletes, John H. M. Miller and Virginia Helgeson who have decided that two people can live as cheaply as one and so appropriately enough, on the day after Valentine’s day they will exchange the vows in the United Protestant Church.” John is a member of the Groceteria team of the City Basketball League. Virginia is a forward on the Richland ladies basketball team (Richland Laundry) which defeated the Waves team from the Pasco Naval Air Station in the curtain raiser to the Globetrotter game. Virginia is slated to appear Saturday night in the basketball show at the Col-Hi gymnasium. I have 25 cents that says she won’t be a hundred miles of Richland Saturday night.”

 Virginia left the workforce in 1947 to begin a family and to support John in his over 40 year career with DuPont and General Electric. The family left the Tri-Cities in December of 1961 for 19 years.  Prior to leaving the Tri-Cities, there were always family vacations; including a vacation and camping each summer for nine straight years at Rockaway, OR on the Oregon coast, the Mid-West, and back East to visit relatives and friends. During the time away from the Tri-Cities, the family lived in California, India, Minnesota, Iowa, Georgia and Ohio. It was always an adventure moving and finding the next house.  With the move to India and return after two plus years, the family went around the world and travelled through Asia and Europe. The family returned to the Tri-Cities in December of 1980 where John finished his career as the GE Site Manager for Hanford 2 Project and retired in 1982.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1984. Virginia is survived by son, Jim of Garrison, ND; son, Richard of La Porte, TX; daughter, Virginia (husband Steve and grandson, Seth) of Isabella, MO; brother, Bill Helgeson (wife Reba) of Richland, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

When Virginia returned to the Tri-Cities, her activities included bowling, golf, bridge and travel. She traveled the world with one of her best friends, Monnie Osowski; sister-in-law, Doris Miller and her daughter. Virginia travelled to visit her children as they moved around the country and they travelled back home to visit Mom.  Virginia and her good friend, Monnie and both their daughters were original season ticket holders with the Tri-City Americans hockey team. Virginia was an avid fan for 25 years.

Virginia was an ardent golfer in the West Richland ladies nine-hole league and an avid bridge player every week for over 25 years. Believe it or not Virginia was bowling twice a week up until two and a half years ago when her hips got too bad. She played most recently on the WhizKids and the Mighty Cougars teams with longtime teammates Bill and Irelius. 

Virginia was a very supportive mom in all her children’s endeavors and a warm and loving special grandma to Seth.

Virginia was able to live on her own home with her cats with much independence until the end of her life due to the fantastic organization, Senior Life Resources Northwest. They are an organization dedicated to the improvement of life's quality, and to maintain independent living. For the past 5+ years, Mom’s helpers included originals, Iran and Joyce, plus Sarah and most recently Iran, Tatiana, Susan, Tiffany and Tasha. Also, long time neighbors, the Reynolds and the Williams, were always there to help Virginia.

We must mention Virginia’s favorite restaurant, Shari’s in Richland and thank the staff for making Mom feel very much at home every time she went there.

Thanks to Dr. Sharma and Dr. Snyder for their thorough and compassionate care. Also thanks to the Richland paramedics who responded quickly and to the Kadlec doctors, nurses and staff who cared for Virginia.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Events at Sunset; 915 By-pass Highway, Richland, WA.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Senior Life Resources Northwest.