HELEN GRACE THACHUCK

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HELEN GRACE THACHUCK Helen Grace Thachuck, 94, of San Luis Obispo, CA died February 20, 2003, in her own home. She was born Elena Grace Tkachuk, July 20 1908, on the family farm in Arbakka, MB. She entered the United States at age 13 as a farm helper to Mr. Welford, who later went on to become the Governor of the State of North Dakota. Helen moved into town to Pembina, ND to care for a family, the Cavaliers. After the passing of the Cavalier family, Helen converted the Cavalier home into the Pembina Hotel with one of the first loans from President Roosevelts Works Progress Administration. Helen managed the Pembina Hotel with the help of her three nieces, Margaret Storoziuk, and Olga and Helen Chobotar. They raised their own vegetables and cooked all the meals at the Hotel. Uniformed soldiers were always allowed free room and board during wartime. The Pembina Hotel was the only hotel on the United States / Canada border at that time. Travellers stayed there if they arrived at night after the border crossing closed. They had many famous guests, including big-game hunter and former President Teddy Roosevelt, who played many games of cribbage on the hotels hand-carved cribbage board. In 1956, Helen moved to Long Beach, CA to care for her sister, Verna. When her sister recovered, Helen then moved to Camarillo, CA while her niece, Olga, attended the University of Southern California. When Olga married Dr. Robert Harway, Helen moved to Port Orford, OR to run a 227 acre sheep ranch just inland from Humbug Mountain. In the 1970s, Helen moved back to California to a 40 acre ranch on River Road in Paso Robles, CA living there for 10 years before moving back to Gold Beach, OR. While living in Gold Beach and Coos Bay, OR Helen sewed clothes for the Salvation Army. Many of the childrens dresses she made had beautiful appliqued animals on the pockets. In 1989, Helen sold her home in Oregon and moved to San Luis Obispo, CA to live with her niece, Olga and the Harway family on their ranch near the Edna Valley. Helen was an avid gardener and environmentalist. She loved to sew, applique and quilt. Bread making was her favourite pastime and she was famous for her lemon bars. Helen donated her body to science. Arrangements were under Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach, CA. Private memorial services were held. Helen is survived by Olga and Robert Harway of San Luis Obispo, CA; Helen Moris of Pembina, ND; the Renaud and Nagy families of Winnipeg, MB; the Chobotar families of Cranbrook, BC, Vancouver, BC and Victoria, BC; as well as many grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 15, 2003