Arimo…Helen Toler Gunter passed away March 27, 2009, at her home from cancer. She was born February 18, 1923, to Lemuel and Goldie Armstrong Toler and was their third child. Her sisters are Dorothy Barger, Vera Hall (Wayne), Beverly Ware (Dean) and a baby sister Lois died in infancy. Her brother is Maurice Toler (Helen). She attended schools in Robin and Arimo High School. After graduating in 1941, she attended Albion Normal School for their two-year teaching program. Helen married James H. Gunter on July 29, 1942, in the Logan LDS Temple. WWII was on at the time and nine days after their marriage, James left for Army basic training in Clairborne, New Mexico. He left for Alaska on September 10, 1942, and arrived on September 17, 1942. While he was away, Helen served a six-month LDS mission to the Northern California Mission and also taught school in McCammon. When James was stationed in Louisiana, Helen moved there to be with him and was called to be a stake missionary. James then went to the Phillippines and was discharged from the Army January 6, 1946. They then resided in Arimo, where their first seven children were born.
In 1954 Helen and James homesteaded a farm (Columbia Basin Project) near Othello, Washington. Here six more children were born. After raising their family in the Columbia Basin for thirteen years, they returned to Arimo. Helen taught school for 23 years in Lava, Arimop and McCammon. After retirement,, Helen and James served two LDS missions, one to the Fiji Islands and one to the Montana Billings Mission. They also served in the Logan LDS Temple.
Helen was dedicated to genealogy, gardening, canning, sewing, quilting and reading. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many positions. She is survived by her husband, James; 13 children; Lonnie,(Lettie) Gunter; Layne Gunter; Joel (Vennie) Gunter; Jeff (Vickie) Gunter, Ernie Gunter; Lemuel Gunter; Sally (Dale) Evans; Suzanne (Mike) Block; Saralee Galloway; Mark (Trudy) Gunter; Hal (Beth) Gunter; Goldie (David) Bosen; Samuel Gunter; 72 grandchildren and 65 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her baby sister, 2 sons in law, 2 daughters in law and 1 granddaughter. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 12 noon in the Arimo LDS Stake Chapel. Friends may visit with the Gunter family from 6-8 pm at Horsley’s Marsh Valley Funeral home 570 N. Meadowview Dr. in Arimo and on Thursday at the Arimo Church prior to services from 10:30-11:30 am. Burial will follow in the Arimo Cemetery. Friends are invited to send condolences to the Gunter family by visiting online at www.horsleyfuneralhom.com.