Despite medical issues, hospitalizations, and surgeries that began decades ago and caused her to anticipate she wouldn't see age 70, Helen Cossitt lived to her fullest until Monday, February 26, 2024, when she passed away at 92 in Helena, Montana.
And until the most recent few years, her "fullest" life was very full. She never missed an opportunity to socialize with friends, family and others she encountered wherever she might be. Helen had recently decided to move from Billings and all her good friends there after 30 years to be closer to her son in Helena, Montana.
Helen was resilient, independent, strong-willed, creative, and generous. Our lives are less full without Helen here.
Helen was born on May 18, 1931 in Miles City, MT, the second child of Oscar (Sal) Cain and Gladys (Venable) Cain. Her childhood home was at the base of Home Creek Butte between Ashland and Broadus. She attended high school in Miles City, and earned a teaching degree at what is now MSU-Billings. She met her husband, Lester Austin Cossitt, at a country dance in Birney and they married on December 14, 1952.
They lived for a short while in Billings, where their son Carl was born, then a couple of years in the Ashland area, and then in Sheridan, Wyoming where they stayed for 35 years. In 1991, they moved to Laurel to be closer to their son and his family in Park City, Montana. Austin passed in 1996, and around 2001, Helen moved to Billings. Helen loved her Billings friends and continued playing pinochle and dancing at the Heights VFW into her 90's.
Our thanks to the staff and friends at WestPark Village, where she lived two years before moving to Helena.
Helen is survived by her son Carl and his wife Anne Cossitt, grandchildren Travis Cossitt (wife Krysta) and Emily (Cossitt) Startin (husband Taylor Blaine), and great grandchildren Marilynn and Austine Cossitt and Zoey and Nolan Startin.
A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Saturday, April 20, 2-4pm at Lake Hills Golf Course Clubhouse at 1930 Clubhouse Way in Billings, Montana. For more information about Helen, go to http://www.simplecremationmt.com.
In lieu of flowers, you may commemorate Helen with donations to the Range Riders Museum in Miles City or the Heights VFW Post 6774, 637 Anchor Drive, Billings, MT 59105.
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