June B. Helton Stromberg Obituary

June Helton Stromberg was born October 19, 1915, in Grandfield, Oklahoma, in the home of her parents, Robert Isaac Helton and Stella Moore Helton, joining an older brother, Robert M. Helton. She died November 8, 2021, in Claremont, CA. [To the end of her 106 years, June loved to tell stories of her family—of her parents’ “Okie” pioneer families, of her mother who at 18 became the teacher of a one-room school with 30 first through twelfth graders, of her father who built still-standing grain elevators in Grandfield in 1913, farmed, and for a period served as the overalls-wearing president of Grandfield’s First State Bank. To the end of her life, June took an active interest in her Oklahoma wheat farm.]

June attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, a two-year women’s college at the time, and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, T.C. Stromberg of Ardmore, Oklahoma, in 1936 in her family’s home. She then worked as a bank teller and bookkeeper, when teaching jobs preferentially went to men and single women. Looking to build their lives together in new directions, T.C. and June took notice of an ad announcing the need for a lumber yard in Artesia, New Mexico. Aided by a loan, the couple established the Artesia Lumber Company in 1939. Excepting the war years when they were away for service in the U.S. Navy, they spent the next four decades in Artesia, raising daughters Sara and Ann and becoming involved in community activities. They retired to Ardmore, where they celebrated their 64th anniversary before T.C.’s death in 2000. At 90, June moved to Claremont, California, to be near her daughter, Ann. [There she joined the United Church of Christ Congregational and participated in various classes including her favorite, water aerobics.]

In Artesia, June was active in the First Presbyterian Church as a deacon and elder, in P.E.O. which gave outlet for her deep interest in women’s education, and, as a co-leader of two Girl Scout troops over 17 years. A lifelong member of Girl Scouts, June, and friend Edna Carper, were the long-time leaders of Troop 20 whose members (now 79 and 80 years old) continue to meet on zoom. After these girls’ graduation, June organized a second troop, whose members she also adored, and she worked several years as a teacher’s aide in Cottonwood, NM. Everywhere she lived, she was known for her dedication to serving others, sense of humor, open-mindedness, and desire to keep learning–exemplified by the courses that she took in fly-fishing in her 80s and lipreading in her 90s.

The survivor of two pandemics (1918-19 and COVID) and two World Wars, mother to two daughters and two Girl Scout troops, June is deeply missed by those who love her. She lives in the hearts of daughters Ann Stromberg (Rudi Volti) of Claremont, CA, and Sara Jones (Nathan Jones) of Allen, TX; grandchildren Troy Zeleny, Faith Nelson and Ashley Jones of Allen, Shannon McElroy of Ardmore, OK, and Kate Volti of Austin, TX; eleven great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; six nephews/nieces and their families. . June thought of others “like family”, including the Josefy family of Grandfield, OK; Gitty Rossouli, American Field Service daughter of Encino, CA; all her Girls Scouts; Schebriel Dennis of Roswell, NM; Mona Montes of Los Angeles, CA and other dedicated caregivers. The family is grateful to Pilgrim Place Health Services Center and the VNA Hospice of Southern California for help with June’s care towards the end of life. Those wishing to honor June with a gift might consider: GS of the Desert Southwest, 700 Girl Scout Way, El Paso, TX 79924 (Fund Development Department) OR Pilgrim Place, 625 Mayflower Rd., Claremont, CA 91711 (Advancement: for PPHSC).

Local arrangements were under the direction of Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and Crematory where condolences may be left for the family at www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com.