Helen Hackleman

HELEN L. HACKLEMAN, 82, passed away on November 29, 2006 at the Mitchell Care Center. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 1pm on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Mel Gabel officiating. Helen was born on April 16, 1924 in Lusk, WY, the daughter of Joseph and Flora (Clark) McConaughey. She was raised on the family farm northeast of Lusk and attended Node School and Lusk High School. Following high school graduation, Helen attended Chadron State College, where she received her teaching certificate. She taught at McGrew, Mitchell, Wheatland and Torrington Elementary Schools for several years. She married John Swanson in 1948. He was killed flying a bombing run during the Korean Conflict, leaving her with two small children to raise. During those years, she worked as a receptionist at Torrington Medical Group, enjoying a wonderful rapport with the patients who came to her desk for assistance. She married Dale Hackleman in 1960 and they purchased a dairy farm south of Torrington. They raised their two children and her two children as a happy family, enjoying farm life and all it had to offer. When her children grew up and had children of their own, they always enjoyed staying with Grandma, she loved to have them around. Dale and Helen moved into town in the late 1980s and made their home in Torrington until Dale's death in June of 2006, at which time Helen moved to Mitchell Care Center to be closer to her daughter.Helen was an artist and through the course of her life completed many wonderful watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings. She was a member of the Southeastern Wyoming Art Association for many years. Earlier in her life, she enjoyed league bowling, was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and enjoyed singing in the choir at the First Baptist Church.She is survived by her children , Margy (Chuck) Karpf and their family Andy, Taffy, Zac, Mark, Eric and Leah; Mike (Cindy) Swanson and their family Lesley, John and Isaac; Ted (Lori) Hackleman ; and Bill Hackleman and his family Gavin, Wil, Levi, and Caleb; great-grandchildren, Markito, David, Braden & Zoe; and her brothers, Clark and Donald McConaughey. Preceding her in death were her parents and her husbands.

Helen Hackleman

April 16, 1924 - November 29, 2006