The Idaho State Journal 08-26-2000

MONTPELIER - Helen Marjory Cochran Kautz, of Montpelier, died peacefully in her sleep at her home on Tuesday evening, August 22, 2000.

She was born in Montpelier, Idaho, on October 20, 1915, the daughter of Annie Christoffersen of Montpelier, Idaho, and Charles Alfred Cochran of La Mar, Missouri. She received her early education in Montpelier, and graduated from Montpelier High School. She continued her education in Ogden, Utah, where she graduated from beautician school.

She was also a magazine and picture model for many fashion and nail companies. She was required to keep her beautiful red hair uncut, and her nails an inch and a half long.

While living in Ogden, Helen met and married Kenneth Kautz Jr., an officer and pilot stationed at Hill Air Force Base. She loved the military life, except the times when her husband had to be away. They were stationed in different areas of the United States and in Germany.

She loved to travel and explore all the many areas around the current Air Force base where they were stationed. She worked at different jobs on different bases - from doing all inventory, ordering and scheduling at the base restaurant, to being the editor of the base newspaper. All her bosses never wanted Kenneth to be transferred to another base or to retire because they would lose such a competent employee and a wonderful person.

Her favorite job was to volunteer at all the base youth centers. Helen loved children, and they all loved her. While stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, she also volunteered for many years in the main office of the muscular dystrophy organization.

In her spare time Helen was an avid golfer. She and Kenneth played in many tournaments and received many trophies. They also liked to play just for fun. She also enjoyed showing her springer spaniel, Tammy, for which she received many ribbons and awards.

Helen was also an accomplished fly fisherwoman. When the family moved to Montpelier in 1972, she and Kenneth enjoyed trout fishing along the streams and rivers of southern Idaho. Helen also liked to read, make blankets for her dearly loved grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, plant and tend her garden, camp and hike in the mountains, feed the birds and squirrels outside her kitchen door, and nap with her cat. Her family was always her greatest treasure.

She is survived by her daughters, April Anne Kautz, Montpelier, Idaho, and Maurie Kautz Evans of Marysville, California; brother, Donald Cochran of Arizona; sister-in-law, Helen Evans of Pocatello, Idaho; a god child, Bill McKeathen of Buffalo, New York; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and two sisters.

The funeral service will be today, Saturday, August 26, 2000, at 3 p.m. in the Fourth Ward LDS Chapel in Montpelier, Idaho. Interment in the Montpelier City Cemetery.