Helen Louise (Wilke) Haynie, age 90, died peacefully on Sunday morning, January 7, 2018 at Bayview in Seattle, Washington. Louise was born February 6, 1927 in Kalispell, Montana to Carl and Irene Wilke. She was raised on the family farm originally homesteaded by her grandparents, and attended Flathead Valley High School. Louise graduated as an RN (Registered Nurse) from Wenatchee School of Nursing and Whitworth College in 1949. In 1950 she married Stan Haynie, though they later divorced. Louise spent her professional life at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, rising to Head Nurse of neuro and vascular surgery. In 2013 Louise reconnected with her high school beau Jim Robischon of Kalispell. Louise and Jim shared an ongoing long-distance friendship that was a delight to them both.
Louise was an artist with wonderful taste in clothing and decor, and was even selected to model at Macy’s in her senior years. She loved the ocean but always felt drawn back to her first home, Kalispell, and treasured all of her family connections.
Louise is survived by daughters Rochelle Wyatt and Sheree Smith, grandchildren Aaron Denke, Teija Bielas, Jenny Mills and Nik Smith, three great-grandaughters, sister Carlene Brooner, cousins Peggy Robertson and Nancy Hughes, her many nieces and nephews scattered across the northwest, and James Robischon, who she considered the love of her life. She was preceded in death by a younger sister, Elaine McAllister.
A private memorial will be held in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/WAS/Donate
