Helen (Cole) Keso

Helen Keso peacefully passed away at age of 87 on Saturday, May 14, 2022. She was born in Albuquerque, NM in an adobe house on 12th Street that her father built.  Helen and her two siblings grew up in a home with routine, discipline, and family chores.  Helen was a dedicated student making A’s throughout her schooling.  Her favorite childhood memories were the trips her family took exploring New Mexico.  Growing up, Helen participated in 4-H and learned cooking, sewing, and gardening. She also was fond of music and became an accomplished accordion player as a teenager. It was during her music class, when she met her husband, Everett, who was in the Air Force stationed in Albuquerque.  Everett’s friend knew the music teacher and showed him a flyer with Helen’s photo on it for an upcoming music performance.  The two then met and dated for three years.  Helen graduated from Albuquerque High School and was married to Everett a short time later on June 7, 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  In total, the couple was married for 69 years.  Everett passed in July 2021.  Helen was the fourth generation in her family to celebrate a “Golden 50th Anniversary.”

While Everett pursued a career in the insurance industry for 42 years where he was district manager for Globe Life and United American Insurance Co. and received numerous awards/honors, Helen became a model homemaker mastering its many responsibilities.  She raised three children, handled the many important roles inside and outside the home, faithfully attended to her family’s needs, and provided great stability for the family.  She was a wonderful cook and provided a wide range of delectable family meals.  She was most famous for her cobblers, and with Everett being an avid hunter and fisherman, Helen was also known to make tasty dishes of venison and fish.  Her home was often the place of many family events.  People enjoyed her home.

Helen had many passions, the first of which was her relationship with the Lord.  She was a believer in Christ who loved reading and studying the Bible, journaling, praying, watching inspirational programs, singing, and reading books about God.  She conducted a Bible-study at her home for many years where she provided inspiration to others and led some to a relationship with Lord.  In addition, she was an avid reader, a superb caretaker of lush, flourishing, colorful yards, had a nice touch for interior decorating, and was a traveler who absolutely loved beautiful scenery and wildflowers.  She and Everett traveled/camped all over the US and Canada, most of the time in a truck and camper.  They attended many company conventions throughout the continent and made frequent trips to Wisconsin where Everett was from.  Mostly though, she simply loved her family.  She was a devoted mom and loving wife whose heart for her family’s well-being was evident throughout her life.  Helen’s good heart was something Everett greatly loved about her.

Everett and Helen shared a deep love for the property they owned for over 30 years - Tent Rock Ranch in Cochiti Canyon near the old Dixon Apple Orchard.  They cherished spending weekends amongst the tall trees and picturesque canyon walls. They enjoyed seeing wildlife, walking the grassy paths, sitting on the porch with the gentle mountain breeze, and watching the flowing trickling stream.  The property included eight old log cabins they enjoyed restoring until it all burned down in 2011 by the Los Conchas fire.

Helen loved when people visited and spent time just talking. She was truly interested in and cared about others. She had a remarkable knowledge base and enjoyed learning. She treasured moments and took thousands of photos of family/friends.  She was a servant at heart.  She lived up to the meaning of her name, which was “light.”  She was a light to her family and friends.

She is survived by children; Roxanne Hennig, Dan Keso, and Len Keso and wife, Michelle; grandchildren, Tamara Langwell and husband, Chris, Nathan Keso and wife, Hannah, Larae Hill and husband, Robert; and great grandson, Reid Langwell.

Funeral and celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at French-University.  Interment follows at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 924 Menaul Blvd, NE. If you are unable to attend in person, the family would like to extend an invitation to join them by viewing the live stream of the service, which can be found here .