July 30, 1936 - March 12, 2020
Helena Elizabeth Matthews White, 83, of Creston, BC passed away at Creston Valley Hospital the evening of the 12th of March, 2020 of natural causes. Born to Ivy Loucetta Crumb Matthews and Frank L. Matthews in Trail, BC on the 30th of July, 1936. Helena was an only child, raised in Missoula, Montana, USA.
Married Donald Arthur White (deceased 18 Feb 2000) in Missoula in September of 1954. The family lived in Missoula, MT; Entiat, WA; Remac, BC and Kaslo, BC before arriving in Creston in 1966. She re-entered the workforce in 1972 working as a Reporter/Columnist for the Creston Review and then moved on to be the Community Programs Director at the local Community TV cable channel from 1976 to 1979 then on to the Creston Valley Advance starting as Columnist, reporter/photographer. She and Don purchased the Advance in 1984, she continued as Publisher after sale of the business in 1988 until her retirement in 1998.
Heavily involved in the community from arrival in Creston in 1966 until her passing as: Brownie leader; director Creston Arts Council ; director Creston Valley Blossom Festival Committee; director and chairman Creston Public Library Association; representative to Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority Public Advisory Committee; director, Regional Recreation Commission; director, Creston Valley Hospital Board; director, Kootenay Regional Economic Development (KREDA); director, executive and first female president, Creston and District Chamber of Commerce; director, Creston Community Pride Committee; founding executive, Creston Valley Human Rights Coalition; Councillor on Creston Town Council; executive of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #29; Creston and District Historical and Museum Society, Archives section.
Inducted into Who's Who of Canadian Women in 1996 and Canadian Who's Who in 1998 as well as multiple awards for journalism and writing.
Helena is survived by children, Kyle (Creston, BC), Karen and her children Alexander and Bianca (Montreal, QC) and Kathleen and husband Dave (Parham, ON).