Robert David Helsley

Robert David Helsley, longtime resident on the Royal Slope, succumbed to time and complications of diabetes and heart disease on the afternoon of May 19, 2013. Known to most as "David", he was born January 14, 1930 in Buhl Idaho, at his family home, to Otis and Hazel Helsley. He was among two boys and seven girls in the family. David graduated from Castleford High School in the class of 1948, after which he continued working on the family farm. In late 1950 David enlisted in the US Army and was trained for rolling ordnance duty. In June of 1951 he was stationed at Camp Desert Rock in the Nevada Proving Grounds to provide ordnance support to vehicles entering and leaving the atomic bomb testing site, and as an "observer" to several of the atomic blasts conducted there. In 1952 David was shipped to Korea, where he was assigned to an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Batallion, part of a crew firing a 90mm M2 gun. His duty with the Army ended with an honorable discharge in early 1954 and he returned to Castleford to reenter civilian life. As the Columbia Basin Project was nearing its completion the family purchased a prime parcel west of Quincy, Washington . It was during this time that David met Arlean Ruby Peterson of Jerome Idaho while at a dance while visiting home in Castleford, Idaho. The two courted between Southern Idaho and Quincy and in 1956 married and moved to live in Quincy full time. In short time daughter Peggy was born, and a year later a son, Douglas. David farmed with his father in Quincy for some time then moved his young wife Arlean and two kids to the Royal Slope in 1960; their initial residence was a retired irrigation project dorm-house David had purchased and had moved onto his new and empty property. The early years on the Royal Slope proved to be windy and dusty but over time he developed a productive 160 acre farm that supported them, the construction of a new house, and an additional four children: Wally, Robert, Russell, and Sharon. In 2007 David lost his wife Arlean to a stroke after 51 years of marriage. An entry written about David in his 1948 high school yearbook by classmates stated "Common sense is genius in its working clothes", and nothing could describe David better. He was physically tough, though gentle with all people and animals, and exemplified patience, tolerance, and simplicity. Farming had been the cornerstone of David's life, and would have been fitting to end his life as he began it, on a farm. However due to fragility in his health in later years this was not to be, and he entered the community of residents at Columbia Crest in Moses Lake where he met many friends and was loved by all. David was preceded in death by his parents Otis and Hazel, sisters Sonya and Billie, grandson Jason, and his wife Arlean. David is survived by brother Donald, sisters Marie Newman, Helen Leighton, Louise Gowan, Alice Maher, and Lucille Beach; children Peggy Montgomery, Doug, Wally, Robert, Russell, and Sharon Harris; 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be held from noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 23rd at Kayser’s Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 24, 2013 at Royal Memorial Gardens in Royal City. (If raining, services may be moved to the Royal City Nazarene Church).

Robert David Helsley

January 14, 1930 - May 19, 2013