Helga Arnold passed away peacefully on Friday, March 26, 2021 at age 99.

Helga was born June 2, 1921 in Mount Green, Saskatchewan, Canada, the youngest child of Heinrich Rudolph and Olga Neuhoff Rudolph. She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1923 and settled on a 1,000-acre farm near Stady, North Dakota. Her father passed away shortly thereafter, so she "helped" her mother and siblings with the farm chores and attended Elmgren School #3. Describing her life on the farm she said it "was a simple, carefree, uncomplicated life and I loved every minute of it."  During the Depression, Helga remembered always having enough to eat and day laborers coming to their door looking for work in exchange for meals.

In 1934 Helga moved with her family to Centralia, Washington. She graduated from Centralia High School in June,1939 and immediately enrolled in Metropolitan Business College in Seattle. She received her certificate from the Secretarial Department in December, 1939. Helga became a US citizen in 1942.

Helga worked as a secretary for six years before marrying Robert Arnold in 1946. After a honeymoon trip driving to Mexico City and back, they lived in Portland, Oregon. In 1950, they moved to Eugene, Oregon where their three children were born; Vada in 1951, Nancy in 1955 and Edwin in 1956. Helga worked as a bookkeeper, was a very active member in Central Lutheran Church and raised their children. She was actively involved in the lives of each of her children. She was a wonderful mother and role model; exuding patience, wisdom and a generous heart. Her family was the center of her life to her last day.

Helga and Robert moved the family to Seattle in 1969 when they bought an established HVAC manufacturer's rep. business. She managed the office until 1974 when Robert passed away and she sold the business. In 1975, Helga began working as a bookkeeper for Providence Mount St. Vincent, from which she retired in 1988. In 1989 she returned to "The Mount" and worked part-time in the Foundation office for another five years.

After fully retiring from work, Helga enjoyed volunteering and received recognition for her many hours of community service from King County Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Phinney Neighborhood Association and Greenwood Senior Activity Center.

Helga and her siblings remained close throughout their lives. They enjoyed getting together for family celebrations and holidays. They were all fierce pinochle players and spent hours in good-natured competition. Helga also enjoyed picnics in mountain meadows when her children were young and driving vacations to California to visit her sisters-in-law with whom she maintained life-long friendships. Retirement gave her the opportunity to spend time at her daughter Vada's home in Arizona; her daughter Nancy's homes in San Francisco, St. Thomas, Singapore and France; and travel trips in the western US with her son Ed.

Helga was predeceased by her parents; her siblings, Heinz Rudolph, Hilda Teitzel, and Elizabeth Grauman; her husband, Robert; and her daughter, Vada.

She is survived by her daughter Nancy (Ken Hunting), her son Edwin (Kitty), a plethora of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their extended families.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Lighthouse Memory Care for their compassionate care during Helga's last years. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory Inc, in Anacortes. To share memories of Helga, please sign the on-line guest register at www.evanschapel.com .