Helen Heiman

Helen Heiman was born on October 10, 1919 in Monte Vista, Colorado, to Ida "Miller" and Albert C Getz. Helen was the fourth of seven children. Helen grew up wth her 5 brothers and 1 sister in Monte Vista, Colorado where her mother Ida was a housewife and her father Albert was a farmer. Helen's favorite thing to do as a child was playing with her brohter's and sister. Helen attended the Monte Vista School. During her growing up years she worked at the Sandwich Inn as a waitress. After high school, Helen worked at the bank before getting married. William J. Heiman came in Helen's life, first as a hunting buddy of their father's; the two dated for two weeks and were married on January 8, 1945. Bill was a farmer; he raised sheep, potatoes, and grains. After marriage, Helen became a housewife, better yet a farm wife. Together they had two daughters (Vicki Bamber of Springfield, Colorado and Beverly Raviotta of Colorado Springs, Colorado.) Bill and Helen worked and raised their family in the Center-Sargent area of the San Luis Valley. After they retired from farming, they moved to Monte Vista, Colorado. They enjoyed traveling and seeing family for several years. They always enjoyed taking Sunday afternoon drives to various places. Bill fought cancer for approximately three years and lost the battle on December 11, 1988. At that point Helen began spending winters in Springfield, Colorado with Vicki's family. She became a part of the Bamber family and people would ask when she went home where Grandma was. During this time as she continued to attend church, she wasn't sure about her relationship with Christ, so she made sure that Christ was her personal Savior and was baptized. She continued spending winters in Springfield and the rest of the year in Monte Vista until 2001, when she started spending one half the year with each of her daughters. In 2003, Beverly's health began to deteriorate and Helen stayed with her to help her until she also lost the battle with cancer on August 21, 2005. Since that time Grandma lived with Ralph and Vicki until she broke her arm and dislocated her shoulder and needed more assistance than Ralph and Vicki could provide. At that time it became necessary for her to live at the Southeast Colorado Long Term Care facility. She lived there until she passed from this life on May 8, 2010. Helen was extremely proud of her three grandchildren, Thomas Bamber, Kevin Bamber, and Lisa Smith. She was very proud of her three great grandchildren Jacee Bamber, Carson Smith and Joye Bamber.