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Helen Larson
Helen” (Nicolopulos) (Luke) Larson, an immigrant and longtime Washington resident, passed away peacefully of age-related causes at her home in Richland, on Monday, Aug. 16, 2010. She lived a giving life for 93 years. She was born in Paleopyrgos, Greece on May 20, 1917. She was preceded in death by her mother, Angeliki (Sianis) Nicolopulos, of Paleopyrgos, Greece; father, Vasilios Nicolopulos, of Chicago, Ill.; and three brothers, Gust Nicolopulos of Chicago, Jim Nicolopulos of Deer Lodge, Mont., and Sgt. George Nicolopulos of Chicago; and her first husband, 2nd Lt. William Luke of Chicago.
She is survived by her second husband of 61 years, Harry Larson, of Richland; daughter, Billie (Luke) Ker of Richland, daughter Pauline (Larson) Bogert of Spokane; son, George Larson, of Albany, Ore.; six grandchildren, Stephanie Ker of Kent, Luke Ker of McColl, S.C., William Ker of Lake Stevens, Joseph Larson of Albany, Ore., Christopher Bogert of Osaka, Japan, and Jack Bogert of Spokane; and one great-grandchild, Elijah Ker, of Lake Stevens.
Helen’s father, Vasilios Nicolopulos, came to the United States in 1924. His children stayed with his wife, Angeliki, until her death in childbirth with her fourth child. They then stayed with her sister, Panagiopa Gyros, in Tripoli, Greece until her father could afford passage to send for them. He became a United States citizen in 1927 and was allowed to naturalize his children as citizens at the same time. Gust and Jim (Helen's older brothers) came to America in 1928 and helped their father establish finances to send for the younger two children. Helen, with her younger brother, George, came to America via Ellis Island in 1930 (when she was 12 years old) to live with her father and brothers in Chicago, running newsstands and a grocery store. She finished high school and graduated from business school in 1937 in Chicago.
She married William Luke on Aug. 15, 1940 as World War II was starting, having daughter, Billie, in 1943. William was killed in action Aug. 5, 1943 over Europe, navigating a B-25. Her brother, George, was killed in action in the Pacific Theater (Army) shortly after.
She moved to Van Nuys, Calif. and worked in a bank. She met and married Harry Larson on April 7, 1949. They moved to Potlatch, Idaho, where Harry did auto repair and son, George, was born. The family moved to Quincy in 1951 and bought a farm. Daughter, Pauline, was born in Soap Lake.
Harry operated an auto repair business, developed farmland, a trailer court, other real estate, and farmed for 46 years. Helen was the business partner, bookkeeper and homemaker. She worked on the Parent Teacher Association and the election board for many years. They retired and moved to their current home in Richland in 1997.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local Hospice Care Unit in Helen's name. Graveside services will be at Riverview Heights Cemetery, located at West 10th Avenue and South Olympia Street, Kennewick, at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, 2010.
The family invites you to sign the online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.
