May 19th, 2021

Funeral Notice
Lucille “Lucy” Helsper
Lucille “Lucy” Helsper, 91, of Butte, formerly of Deer Lodge and Anaconda, died Feb. 19. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 28, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 605 Clark St., Deer Lodge. 
Rite of Committal will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge. Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Lucy. 
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Lucy and her family.

William Arthur Rush
June 9, 1930 – April 30, 1921
In memory of my brother Bill Rush:
William Arthur Rush, 90, of Deer Lodge, died Friday, April 30, in Helena, Montana. 
My nephew, Don Rush, asked me to write about my brother Bill for this paper. I do this with pride. He was a brother to be proud of.
Bill was the first born in our family, weighing only 1 ½ pounds. Mother shared how hard it was to care for this tiny baby. She and Dad cared for him with tender loving care. Bill grew up to be 6 foot and 225 pounds.
At age 11, Bill got sick with spinal meningitis. This terrible disease took a toll on him. When it was over, he could not walk. Also, he forgot how to read. My parents bought a bicycle - Dad set him on it. They would go up and down the road until he got his legs working again. Bill was always handicapped with his reading skill, but his common sense was great. He knew how to treat people – fair with lots of kindness.
He left home at 17 and got the job as head crane man for the Anaconda Company After six or seven years, he had to quit – the gases in the air was poisonous. He went to work as a sheepherder in the clean outdoors and got his health back. 
At age 35, his folks had a house fire. Bill went in to recover their important papers. He collapsed in the fire. His dad tore out a hole in the side of the wall and got Bill out. He was burned over 75% of his body, although his face was not burned.
He built his first house in Deer Lodge, and married Doris Sheelow. They had four children: sons, Bill and Don; and daughters, Dollie and a little girl, Bernadette, who one terrible night lost her life in a fire. Also their home.
Bill worked night shift at the Cominco Mine, just outside of Deer Lodge. He worked there 30 years, never missing a shift. In winter he bought warm coats for the miners – he was always thinking of others.
My brother came through so many hard times and always rose up a better man.
He started a used car lot in Deer Lodge – fixed them up and sold them. People paid him little payments. He just knew some folks had it harder than others. Lots of young people got their first car from my brother Bill.
At times he paid taxes for people. Also, food and rent for others down on their luck.
I was his little sister. He made me feel special all through my life. I’m 80 years, now.
In later years, Bill married Winnifred Dulaney. They had a good life together. He loved her very much.
Bill died April 30 of a heart condition. He died peacefully. I know our lord was with him and took him to heaven. Bill believed in Jesus Christ of the Holy Bible.
Bill had a saying when things got rough. He’d say, “What the hell.” He never lingered on the problems; just went on living, helping others.
Bill is survived by his wife, Winnifred; sons, Don and Bill; daughter, Dollie Rush Heitz; brother, George; sisters, Lily Kostoff and Tressie Fike; lots of grandchildren.
Bill Rush will be missed very much. He was a very good man. – written by his sister, Tressie Rush Fike.

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