Helen Elaine Haines

Helen Elaine Haines passed away peacefully September 22, 2015, at Renown Hospital, Reno, Nevada, with her husband and eldest daughter present.

She was born August 6, 1930, in Caliente, NV. to Felton Hanson Hickman and Myrtle Eloise Stewart.  Elaine spent her early years in southern Nevada before moving to Reno at the age of seven, when her father took employment with the Reno school system and later with the University of Nevada as a music instructor.

Elaine graduated from Reno High School at the age of 16 and attended the University of Nevada, Reno.  he married Thellwyn Montague (Monte) Haines in Reno, June 26, 1949, in the Buena Vista chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

She is survived by her husband, daughters Nancy Dick of Reno, Michelle Haines of Topeka, KS., Toni Hayashi (Brad) of Tucson, AZ., son, Richard Monte Haines (Lorraine) of Reno, sister Jacqueline Peterson, and brother, Felton Hickman both of Reno.  She has twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Andrew Kevin Haines (Stacey), sister Mickie Assuras, and brother Paul Hickman.

Elaine was a devoted wife supporting her husband’s career in newspaper production management in Carson City, Sparks, Reno, NV., Chillicothe, OH. and Fort Collins, CO. Monte and Elaine returned to Reno in August 2002 to be closer to family and friends after twenty years in Fort Collins.

Elaine immensely enjoyed the wilds of Nevada, camping and backpacking with her family into Devils Post Pile, Desolation Valley, Mount Whitney and enjoyed the national parks and the sierras.  She was very talented in oil painting, crocheting, knitting, sewing, and baking bread.

Elaine lived the teaching of Jesus Christ: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.”  She quietly supported her husband in Boy Scouting, astronomy, magic clubs, baking thousands of cookies and cupcakes.

Elaine was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served as president of both Primary and Relief Society, as well as teaching sunday church classes.  Elaine served three missions for the church with her husband: 16 months in the print shop at Nauvoo, Ill., six years in the family History Library in Colorado and eight years at the Bishop’s Storehouse in Reno, NV.

A stroke left Elaine with aphasia, a speech difficulty, in 2010.  She was plagued with long term progressive dementia that left her dependent her last two years.

Services will be Monday, September 28 in the LDS chapel on 2050 Robb Drive, Reno, with a viewing at 10 a.m., memorial service at 11, graveside dedication at the Mountain View Cemetery, 405 Stoker, Ave., Reno following.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to your favorite charity or enjoying your favorite buffet in memory of this wonderful, charitable woman.