Helena Margaret Richey, 69, of Idaho Falls, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2015, after a courageous battle fighting ovarian cancer.

Helena was born on February 11, 1946 in Jurva-Vaasa, Finland. She grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with her parents and three siblings. At the age of 18 she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served a mission in Helsinki, Finland.

She married Larry Dean Richey on Oct. 1, 1970 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They lived in California where she was active in church callings and they had their three children. After her husband passed away, she settled in Ashton, Idaho where she spent 25 years teaching at Ashton Elementary. She also served in many church callings and loved the church and the happiness it brought to her.

She loved to garden, cross-stitch, travel, and spend time with family and friends. She loved everyone she met and always had a smile or laugh to share. She was adored by her family and will be greatly missed. Until we meet again.

She was preceded in death by her husband Larry and her parents Lauri and Aino Anttila.
Surviving are her children Dean (Janine) Richey of San Diego, CA, Janice (Tony) Mafnas of San Diego, CA, Blaine Richey of Idaho Falls, Annikka (Paul) Jenkins of Merrimack, NH, Alicia (Ron) Johnson of Idaho Falls; eight grandsons, a granddaughter and four great-grandsons. Also surviving are her siblings, Liisa (Mark) Gunnard of Holden, MA, Nancy (Dave) Cusson of Spencer, MA, and Harry (Dee) Anttila of Boylston, MA.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 27, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home, 717 Main Street, in Ashton. A private family burial will take place in the Pineview Cemetery.