Born Helen Louise Thomas on 16 November 1926 in Fernie, British Columbia, the fifth of ten children, to Ward Joseph and Nellie Blanche (Goodson) Thomas.  Helen attended Holy Cross Catholic School in Fernie until age eight, when she moved with her family to the Black Diamond area of Washington.  She attended public schools until her graduation in 1944.  Shortly after graduation, at age 18, while on a shopping trip to Seattle, Helen met a young Army soldier from Mississippi who offered to carry her packages to the bus stop.  Helen eloped with that soldier on 22 January 1945, becoming Mrs. Levon L. Sims.  On 10 March 1945, Helen and Levon (aka Bill) consecrated their marriage at St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Black Diamond. Immediately, Bill shipped out, leaving Helen to occupy her time with being a member of the Citizen's Patrol, among other activities.   Bill passed away on 17 April 2004.

Helen grew up with her five brothers and four sisters; all but one, her brother Don, preceded her in death.

Helen and Bill raised ten children, six daughters and four sons.  Two sons, Levon Paul and Gregory Dean, preceded her in death.

Following Bill's Honorable Discharge from the Army, they made their first home in Prairie, Mississippi.  Four of the ten children were born in Mississippi.  Helen worked as a local telephone operator for a short period of time, in addition to raising her family. The family returned to Washington State in 1952 to reside in Bremerton, where two more children were added to the growing family.  A growing family needs a larger place, so the family moved to a farm in Silverdale. One more move put the family on a Port Orchard farm where three more children were added to the family, keeping Helen very busy with the then nine children and managing her household with amazing proficiency.

After a short return to Mississippi, the family returned to Bremerton, purchasing their home in 1962.  One year later, the tenth child was added to the family.  Helen continued her family management .... not only as "chief cook and bottle washer, but also as CEO, CPA, teacher, nurse, and doctor." The original Super Woman.  Helen was an accomplished pianist, who loved playing the piano for her family. She also enjoyed singing.

With Bill frequently traveling to Alaska for his job, Helen managed with amazing grace to keep the ten children fed, clothed, clean, and educated.  The front yard and the house was the neighborhood gathering place.  Neighborhood children flocked there for her fresh hot bread, other baked goods, her warm heart, and mothering attention.  In 1968, when Helen and Bill decided they did not like being apart so often, they packed up the seven remaining at home and moved to Adak, Alaska, a small Naval community in the Aleutian Islands.  While on Adak, Helen continued to nourish her children and manage the home, but also found time for some personal nourishment as well.

Helen become involved with the local Catholic Church, acting as Church secretary and showcasing her beautiful voice in the choir.  Additionally, she taught Catholic education and was involved in the Catholic Youth Organization.

Helen and Bill took up square dancing, with Helen sewing their matching outfits.  Being an accomplish seamstress, she even taught the Island Home Economics teachers a thing or two.  Not only could she sew, she was second to none with her beautiful technical crochet projects.    Helen had the voice of an angel and was a welcome addition to the local women's singing group, the Aleutionaires, for many years.  The Civilian Women's Club kept Helen busy with raffles, bake sales, thrift shop, and outings.

Again, the home of "Mom" Sims became the gathering, safe place for the neighborhood children.  Though all older, the "kids" still felt her warmth and acceptance.  So much so, that she was asked, and accepted, the role of caregiver for several Island children for many years.  Some of them had remained in contact with her over the years.  Some of the Navy unaccompanied personnel also felt at home with their "away-from-home" Mom!

Upon his retirement in 1981, Helen and Bill left Adak.  With their last child graduated, Helen and Bill were off to their new adventures.  They moved to Port Orchard, Washington.  While in Port Orchard, Helen lent her beautiful voice to the women's singing group, Sweet Adelines and performed locally until 1984, when Bill and Helen moved to Republic, Washington.  They stayed in Republic for a year while home-searching.  Helen and Bill's last and final move was to Malo, Washington onto St Peters Creek Road.

While in Malo, Helen became an active member of the Catholic Church, specifically the tiny St. Patrick's mission church in Curlew; she also occasionally attended Immaculate Conception in Republic.  The Country Club was a source of Helen's entertainment for several years until the members all aged out or moved.  One of Helen and Bill's favorite pastimes was traveling to local casinos with friends for fun, dinner, and good memories.

With Bill's passing in 2004, Helen maintained the family home, inviting friends and family with an open-door policy to enjoy company, conversation, and home-cooked meals.

When it became difficult for Helen to attend Mass, Father Kenny St. Hilaire made frequent visits to bring her Communion and to ready her soul to leave this earth.

On 8 October 2025 at 6:21 a.m., Helen passed away peacefully at home with two of her children present at her side. She long awaited the release of her soul to our Lord and to be reunited with Bill.  She will continue to keep her watchful eye over her family as she accompanies Bill and friends to the Big Casino in the Sky.

Helen is survived by eight children: Mike (Margaret), Cheryl (Rick) Swearingen, Sikander (Storm) Jaad, Alan (Fumiyo), Robin Sims-Fisher, Laurie (Joe) Sims, Marita Tracy, and JoNell (Darren) Turner, 28 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law Diane Sims, and Fran Sims.

Helen, Mom, Grandma, and friend will be greatly missed.  Her warmth and compassion will be felt and remembered with all our hearts by all those she touched throughout her life.