Helen Spencer

Helen Ada Sorensen Spencer ?Nonnie? Feb. 12, 1918-July 9, 2010

Helen Ada Sorensen Spencer, 92, passed away on July 9, 2010, in her home in Bountiful, Utah, due to complications incident to her age. Helen was born on February 12, 1918, in Effingham, Kansas. Her family moved to Texas when she was just a child, and she spent most of her adult life in that state. She loved Texas and its friendly people. . .and the bluebonnets in the spring. She was a voracious reader and one of her favorite pastimes was to go with her mother to the library on Saturday and check out an armful of books, find a large fruit tree in her backyard, crawl underneath it, and spend the afternoon reading away. She loved romance novels with western settings. Helen was the second of twelve children born to Alfred Sorensen and Beulah Mae Angell. Her father, Alfred, was a school teacher and track coach for over 40 years and had an elementary school named in his honor. Helen was salutatorian in her high school class and won a scholarship to Pan American University. She was an outstanding student and learned bookkeeping, typing, shorthand and much about the legal profession and banking from jobs she held early in life. Helen married her sweetheart, John Wesley Spencer, on June 16, 1938. They had one child, William Alfred Spencer. Together, John and Helen built a successful manufacturing company, Valley Battery Company, in McAllen Texas. Helen also founded, owned, and managed a finance company, Fairway Finance, in San Juan, Texas, and held a full time position in charge of an accounting staff of a large corporation. She had time to take up golf later in life and became an excellent golfer winning a club championship one year. She was an excellent cook and loved to prepare meals for her family and guests. In short, she excelled at everything she attempted. Helen was the happiest when she could help others. So many times she quietly came to the aid of friends and family. She was so often the rock for others in their time of need. The simple elegance of her life will live on through those she helped in so many ways. Helen is survived by her son, Bill Spencer Davina, five grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by three sisters, Ruth, Louise and Nancy and three brothers, Alfred, Bob, and Dick. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, five siblings, Mary, Jean, Doris, Jim, and Don, a grandson, and a great grandson. The family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the wonderful care and friendship over the years of our friend, Wendy Marble. Also, we will always remember the care Mother received from the staff of Applegate, especially Elisa. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 13, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 50th Ward, 33 South Moss Hill Drive, Bountiful, Utah. The family will receive friends from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to the service.