Helene Bull

Helene Lorraine Bull passed away peacefully February 27, 2014 from natural causes at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital in Yakima, WA. Helene was born August 9, 1925 in Cle Elum WA to Mary and Jack Hawthorne. Helene was raised by her mother and loving grandparents, Mike and Suzy Fenich in Cle Elum WA. Her cousin Gordon frequently visited from Alaska became her older brother. Throughout her childhood she enjoyed a close bond with her Cle Elum and Alaska relatives, joining them on frequent trips to the river swimming hole or visits to her Uncle John’s soda shop. As a teenager, Helene worked beside her mother at the Cottage Cafe in Cle Elum. She loved telling the story of her pie mistake. Helene had custard pies ready to go into the oven. A box of Grapenuts cereal above the pies fell over and the little nuggets fell into the pies. Her mother told her to go ahead and bake them. The result was such a hit with customers, she continued baking the ‘mistake’. Helene found her calling in nursing. May 27, 1951 she graduated from Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Tacoma. She rode an Indian motorcycle to and from class. Years later she became the first woman in Yakima to complete the new motorcycle test at the DMV in Union Gap. As a student nurse she worked at hockey games keeping the players stitched up. She spent the rest of her working life as a nurse(RN) providing nursing care with efficiency and love for all her patients. October 25, 1952 she married the love of her life, Leland Bull in Ellensburg. They spent their early married years in Alaska, first in Ketchikan near her aunt and uncle, J.J. and Helen Fenich Zerbetz, then later in Petersburg, Alaska, with Helene working as a hospital nurse and Leland working as a pharmacist. She talked fondly of her Alaska days, remembering fishing adventures, including the big halibut that towed their little boat around for an hour, and the clean air. Returning to Yakima they began raising a family. They purchased Gray Cross Drug. Leland was the pharmacist. Helene continued nursing and helped dad at the pharmacy whenever possible. They were an inseparable team. They were married for 58 years until he passed May 7, 2011. Their home in Terrace Heights was complete with a small fruit tree orchard. They delighted in canning and drying fruit, experimenting with pineapple juice to sweeten their canned pears. She could smell a walnut and tell it was ready to crack open. Helene graciously and lovingly provided home nursing care for her grandmother, mother and husband through their final illnesses. Helene’s own health issues necessitated her living at Crescent Hills Nursing Center for the last three years of her life. While her physical health failed, her mental health remained lively, with her often advocating for her fellow patients. She believed in her faith and was ready to be with the Lord. Helene is survived by her son, Michael Bull (grandsons Christopher and Matthew) of Yakima and daughter Cheri Huerta (Tony) (granddaughter Toni and grandson Luke) of Grand Rapids Michigan and cousins in Alaska and Washington. Services will be limited to immediate family at a later date. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helene Bull, please visit our flower store.