Resident Spotlight

Helen Louise Ruffner

Helen Louise Donald Ruffner was born in Duluth, Minnesota on October 10th, 1920. Her parents were Alex and Jenny Donald. Alex was a native of Duluth and Jenny immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island from Denmark when she was 18. Helen has one younger sister named Ruby. When Helen was six years old the family moved to the L.A. area thus trading the cold & freezing weather of Minnesota for the beautiful weather of Southern California. They lived in Culver City. When she was young she enjoyed playing just about any sport. She also became quite good at playing the violin. She graduated from Venice High School in 1939.

After graduating from high school she started working for the telephone company. It wasn’t long before World War II interrupted everybody’s life. Not long after the war started she met a young Navy serviceman named Willis Ruffner and they were married in June of 1943. Soon after the marriage he shipped out to the Pacific area of the war. During his absence she moved back in with her parents in their home in Culver City and nine months later her first son, Bill, was born. Almost two and a half years later Willis returned as the war in the Pacific ended.

Willis had been trained in the navy as an accountant and pursued schooling in that area after the war. He became a Certified Public Accountant. In 1948 they bought and moved into a new home in Downey, California and soon another son, Paul, joined the family. In 1953, Janet was born thus completing the family.

Willis died in 1982 and she moved south to Vista and then to Oceanside. In May of 2000 she moved to Provo to live in a condominium at Shadowbrook. This move brought her closer to many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved her condo and being in Provo. In February of 2007 she moved to Jamestown.

She has three children, nine grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. Throughout her life she has enjoyed doing puzzles, reading, and studying the Bible.

She is a wonderful supportive mother. All the time her children were growing up she kept a beautiful home. She was a great cook that helped her children grow to be strong, healthy, and TALL. She also did all the laundry and then had time to help with homework and school projects, along with attending many games and other activities. Helen loves people and loves living in the beautiful environment at Jamestown.