Helen Lenz

Known affectionately by her family and friends as the littlest angel standing at just 4'8" tall, Helen Joy Hartford Lenz, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 14, 2025, at the age of 87. She was born on May 21, 1937, in Spokane, Washington to Jim and Alice Hartford. After Jim remarried in 1942, Helen had a loving stepmother, Edith Hartford.

Helen grew up in what is now the City of Spokane Valley, with her siblings Kathryn (Cassie), Burt, Linnea, and Louise, and graduated from Central Valley High School in 1955. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1958, where she met and married Roger Lenz, was married and Sealed in the LDS Temple, and had three sons; Tim, Tom, and Andy.

Helen had a long career as a mother and working as an executive assistant at Wells Fargo. Later on she became a long standing member of the LDS Booksellers Association and spent years working in bookstores and going to conventions.

Helen had a passion for genealogy and dedicated her latter years to family history. She loved researching family stories and going on road trips to discover hidden clues about her ancestors. She enjoyed her service in the genealogy library and the LDS Temple.

Helen was a loving, kind, caring, and funny woman, mother, and grandmother. She always had kind words to say to others and was always willing to serve, whether it be in church work, family, friends, or neighbors, she was quick to support and give.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents James Hartford and Alice Colegrove Hartford Klepach, stepmother Edith Hartford, husband Roger Lee Lenz, siblings Kathryn Rose Hartford Larson, Burt Lenard Hartford, and Louise Kay Hartford.

Helen is survived by her sister Linnea Ruth Hartford Patrick; sons, Timothy Lenz (Seraberta), Thomas Lenz (Lesa), and Andrew Lenz (Salina); nephews, Gerald and Sam Larson and niece Cyndi Larson Marcille; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Building

4501 W 11800 S Riverton, UT 84096

Viewing at 6:00 pm.

Service at 7:00 pm.

The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, California.