Obituary of Helen Jean Aker

Helen died on September 9, 2017. She was 94 years old and had lived full time on Hood Canal since 1975, on Triton Head in Lilliwaup, WA. She was born on November 26, 1922 in Hollywood, CA. to Clarence and Janie Kryger. She grew up in Southern California and Oregon, eventually moving to Kent, WA. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1941, marrying her high school sweetheart, Bill Aker one week after graduation. Helen was active in singing and drama and was part of a singing trio, performing locally with her sister and sister-in-law. Helen volunteered for 9 years at the Children’s Orthopedic Thrift shop in Seattle. She was active in Garden Club, PTA, volunteer fire department and church, singing in choir and teaching a youth group for girls. Helen was famous for her cooking and hospitality to all. She and her husband spent many years hunting, fishing, camping in Northwest Washington, Canada and Alaska. She and Bill also traveled extensively in Alaska, Canada, and spent 13 winters on Baja California Peninsula. They also traveled to the British Isles, New Zealand, Central and South America, Turkey and Greece. Helen was a deaconess and actively served at Brinnon Community church. She loved to play her auto harp and sing in the choir. She was married to Bill for 76 years and was honored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter as the current longest married couple living in the State of Washington according to their records. Helen loved the Lord and served Him faithfully all her life. Her home was a haven to family, friends and neighbors, youth groups, retreat groups, and missionaries -she welcomed and fed them all. Her husband, children, grand and great-grandchildren were her joy. She was a beloved wife, mother and “Nana.” Surviving are her husband Bill, son John (and Sharon), of Lilliwaup, WA., daughter Judy Bevilacqua(and Jack) of Gresham, OR., and son Jim(and Derry) of Sammamish, WA., 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, Alvin and Robert Kryger, her sisters, Bonnie (Stredicke) McCulloch, and Pearl Swanson and great grandson Matteo. A Memorial service will be held at Brinnon Community Church in Brinnon WA, on September 24, at 2:00 pm.