Jane Elizabeth (Helpinstill) Salbador, 86, died on May 20, 2017 in Mount Vernon, Washington. Her cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease. She fought a valiant fight against the ravages of this debilitating disease.
Jane was born January 10, 1931 in Nacogdoches, Texas the only child of Jewel H and Mina E (Seelbach) Helpinstill. Her father was a businessman in Nacogdoches owning Helpinstill Auto Supply and who also served in the Texas State legislature in the 1940’s. Jane was a sweetheart of the 47th legislature at age 9 and her picture can still be found in the lower level of the Texas State Capital building. Jane graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1948 where she was a member of the National Honor Society. In 1952, Jane earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stephen F Austin State College in Nacogdoches.
On June 7, 1952 Jane and Gus W Salbador were married at Christ Episcopal Church in Nacogdoches. Gus attended Texas A & M studying veterinary medicine while Jane worked for the mechanical engineering department at A&M to support them until he earned his DVM degree in 1958. Following graduation, they moved to Montana. There Jane and Gus welcomed daughter, Sydnie into the family in Bozeman, Montana in 1962, returned to Texas and son, Gus William (Bill) was born in Nacogdoches in 1965. After a few years on a cattle ranch in Siskiyou County, (Northern) California, Jane and Gus moved back to Montana in 1970, raising Sydnie and Bill in Billings. Jane was a realtor for many years in Billings and served as a director of the Board of Realtors in 1980.
From 1992 to 1997, Gus and Jane enjoyed 6 years on the Island of Roatan, Honduras as volunteer medical missioners sent by the Episcopal Diocese of Montana. The family was graced with many wonderful stories of their adventures in Honduras.
Upon returning to the U.S. from Honduras in 1997, Jane and Gus settled in Wyoming where Gus served as a priest in the Diocese of Wyoming and Jane served on the St. Matthew’s Cathedral Altar Guild in Laramie. Jane and Gus moved to Mount Vernon, WA in 2009 to be closer to their family where Jane enjoyed time being closer to her grandchildren.
Jane is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Gus, her daughter, Sydnie (Bill) Sliker of Seattle, Washington, her son, Bill (Diem) Salbador of Eugene, Oregon. Grandchildren Sarah and Zachary Sliker and Samuel, Hannah and David Salbador.
A memorial service will be held in Nacogdoches on Friday, June 23 at Christ Episcopal Church at 9:30 am. Memorial donations may be made to the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, 7525 SE 24th St., Suite 300, Mercer Island, WA 98040 or a charity of your choice.
Jane Elizabeth Helpinstill
Dau. Of: Jewel Huntington Helpinstill and Mina Elizabeth Seelbach
Granddau. Of: Rev. John Helpenstell and Eleanor Riley Phillips
Great-Granddau. Of: Elijah C. Phillips and Lucy Pearline Broyles
Gt-Gt-Granddau. Of: Joel W. Phillips and Sarah Bathsheba Phillips
(For more ancestors, see Phillips DNA Project, Family Group No. 8)
