Virginia H. Malm

Friday, Jul. 17, 2020

January 19, 1925~ May 17, 2020

Virginia (Ginny) Mary Helterline Malm passed away May 17, 2020. Ginny was born January 19, 1925 on the Helterline family farm in Plains, Montana. Ginny was the second daughter of John and Rose Helterline. Ginny was one of 10 children that were raised on the family farm. She learned to cook, sew, quilt and do woodworking while living on the farm. 

Wanting to assist in the efforts in WWII, Ginny went to Idaho to be trained in welding after graduation. However, the class was filled and she was trained in making rivets. After training, Ginny went to Wyoming, where she worked making rivets. 

After WWII, she came to Salt Lake where her older sister Kate was living. It was here in Salt Lake that she had her four children and raised them as a single mother. She worked at Utah Woolen Mills as a seamstress. Ultimately, she attended trade tech while taking in sewing to support the family. After graduation, she was hired by First Security and worked there until her retirement. After retirement, she traveled extensively going to Italy, Ireland, Australia, Hawaii, and one of her favorite places, Alaska. Every summer she left Salt Lake for a month to stay with her sister Joan in West Virginia, where they would spend the month quilting and traveling around the state. Over the years she amassed a large number of friends through the Cathedral of the Madeleine, during her travels, and in the Avenue neighborhoods where she resided. 

Ginny was a devout Catholic, working for years at the cathedral in many capacities. Ginny was elected Woman of the Year for the cathedral in 1978. In February 2007, she was admitted to the Order of St. Cecilia. 

Ginny was preceded in death by her parents John and Rose Helterline; sisters Mary Lou Helterline and Kate Pemberton; brothers Donald Helterline, John Helterline and Maurice Helterline; and two grandchildren David Malm and Kimberlie Brown. Ginny is survived by her four children and their spouses, David (Martha), Jane Addison (Ray), Donald Malm (Margaret) and Dennis (Cheryl); sisters Joan Jackson, Carol Sanders and Peg Garrison; brother David (Shirley) Helterline; by her grandchildren Shawn, LeeLa (John) and Tina; nine great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends. 

A funeral Mass was celebrated on July 15, 2020 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Ginny was laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.