Helen P. Salow Obituary (1911 - 2018)

Pioneer educator, Helen Pauline (Pechmiller) Salow, went to join her husband Roy in Heaven, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, at age 106 yrs, 9 months, and 13 days. Helen was born on April 26, 1911, to Herman and Augusta Pechmiller in the Township of Spring Brook, rural Menomonie. She married Roy Salow on June 7, 1939, and they had enjoyed 46 years together until his death in 1985. Helen grew up on the family farm, was schooled in the local area, and completed her high school education at Menomonie High School in 1929. She then continued her education at Dunn County Normal School and graduated with a Teaching Certificate in 1930. Her teaching career began in 1930, with a teaching position at the Clearview School, a one-room school house where she taught all classes, for all eight grades. She continued to teach in many rural one-room schools, including Tramway, Ideal, Fall City, and Blanchard, where she and her husband Roy, would fire up the school’s wood stove on winter Sunday nights, so the school was warm and ready for the children in the morning. Helen continued her education with night school and summer school classes and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1968…38 years after she had begun her teaching career! Helen continued to teach at Cedar Falls Grade School, and then taught at Little Elk Creek School until her retirement in1973. She loved her profession of Elementary Education and teaching the farm kids throughout rural Dunn County. Helen continued to live in her home until 2011, when she moved to the Comforts of Home in Menomonie, where she thoroughly enjoyed the living environment, social activities, and the wonderful care and engaging staff that enabled her to continue to enjoy life to the fullest. She was always appreciative of her many friends that provided assistance to her and the car rides from Leonard and Darlene Britton when she could no longer drive. Helen was always active in the local community, and was a member of several cards clubs, the Dunn County Old Settlers Society, Retired Education Organization, and Menomonie Senior Center. She was also a volunteer at the Memorial Hospital gift shop for many years. She enjoyed card playing and singing at the Senior Center and participated in many bus trips with her friends. When she wasn’t teaching, Helen could usually be found tending her flower gardens, where she found great joy in the beauty of her plantings. She could make anything grow! Helen had a deep faith in her Lord, and was an active member in Peace Lutheran Church, including the church choir, and Priscilla Circle, and had also played the piano at church for many years. Somewhere in Heaven there’s a new one-room school, full of children, eager to meet their new teacher…the school is now open for learning. Helen is survived by sons, Jerry (Linda) Salow and Roger (Linda) Salow; grandchildren, Misty (Chris) Belonge, Ryan (Susan Zucollo) Salow and Nicolle (Joe) Davison; great-grandchildren, Sydney Belonge, Britton Belonge, Logan Davison, Joshua Davison, Kristin Davison, Clara Salow and Ruby Salow. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; granddaughter, Amanda Jill Salow; sisters, Nellie Grutt, Matilda Cook and Hazel Eckert; and brothers, Louis Pechmiller and Martin Pechmiller. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie, WI with Pastor Bob Friese officiating. There will be visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Peace Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Menomonie, Dunn Co. WI. Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie is serving the family. Memorials are suggested to Comforts of Home Activities, Meals on Wheels or organization of donors choice.