Helen Irene Hilts

Helen Irene (Cavanaugh) Hilts of Choteau, MT passed away at Peace Hospice, Great Falls, on January 20, 2022, with her daughters by her side. Helen was born May 19, 1930, in Harlowton, MT to Walter and Lena (Tindall) Cavanaugh, the 5th of 6 children. After high school, Helen became a telephone operator for Mountain Bell, first in Harlowton then in Billings, where she roomed with several friends. Helen was introduced to George Hilts by mutual friends, and they were married on August 10, 1963. Their daughter, Leslie, was born in June 1966. The family moved to Chinook a few months later where they were joined by daughters Carolyn in February 1970 and Barbara in September of 1971. George was transferred to Choteau in January of 1977, and Helen returned to the workforce after their girls were raised, working part-time for Teton Medical Center. Throughout her life, Helen was an active member of the Catholic Ladies Auxiliary at every parish in which she lived, and she taught Catechism classes for several years at St. Joseph’s Parish in Choteau. She was a Teton County election judge for several years, helping during general and local elections. Helen was known for her sharp wit, and love of family, her Irish heritage, and her Faith. She loved reading, travel and visiting with her family. In her earlier years she enjoyed dancing and could often be found on the dance floor with George, surrounded by friends. She was also a keen weather observer and could always be counted on by her girls to give a detailed report of the skies and roads, no matter where they moved over the years. Helen is survived by her daughters, Leslie (Paul) McFadden of Fort Collins, CO, Carolyn (Halvor) Kamrud of Missoula, and Barbie (Burke) Stott of Wasilla, AK; grandchildren, Brett Kamrud of Missoula, Wyatt McFadden of Fort Collins, McKenna Stott of Dyess AFB, TX, Dane Kamrud of Bozeman, and Avery Stott of Wasilla; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; parents; siblings, Cecil, Margaret, Mary, Carolyn, and Walter “Tom;” and nephews, Don and Ron Cass, and Jim and Marty Hamre. A private service was held at O’Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls on Monday, January 24th, with burial in the Harlowton Catholic Cemetery where she was laid to rest next to her husband and her family. A memorial service for extended family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to Catholic Charities at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org or Choteau Teton County Public Library at www.choteau-tetonpubliclibrary.com.