Obituary – Helen Ballard
September 25, 2011
On March 10, 1906, Helen Ballard was born to D.C. and Mae Ballard on an Indian reservation near Wheeler, South Dakota. Her early years were shared with nine brothers and sisters in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. She grew up helping with her father’s ranch duties and later traveled with her family to Vermont, where her dad purchased a farm. Helen traveled on to New York City and worked there for a while as a nanny.
A few years later, she moved back to Nebraska and married Henry Ruland Sr. From this union, five children were born. In 1936, Helen, Henry and two small children headed for Wyoming. Henry worked on several Sublette county ranches and Helen was the ranch cook. They spent the majority of their working years on the George Jorgensen ranch, now the Murdock ranch near Pinedale. Henry Sr. Passed on in 1971 and Helen married Dave Cuthbertson, who retired from the trona mines of Green River, Wyoming. Dave passed on in 1984. Helen retired from a long life of hard work and raising kids.
Helen passed on September 24, 2011 at the Sublette Center in Pinedale. At the age of 105, she remained strong and enjoyed her years living and friendship at the Sublette Center. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She was also preceded in death by her son, John, and daughter, Mary Ann (Bob) Gercevich. Helen is survived by her son Larry Ruland (Lenora) of Quinn, South Dakota; Rita Summers (Richard) of Shreveport, Louisiana; and son Hank (Debi) from Pinedale.
A brief memorial service will be held Wednesday morning, September 28th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Heritage Room of the Sublette Center. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the local hospice chapter.
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