Helen Kitchen

Helen Kitchen, age 77, of Orem, Utah, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025, after a battle with brain cancer. Helen was born on January 12, 1948, in Roosevelt, Utah, to John Levi Kitchen and Annie Elizabeth Kitchen. She was the 5th of nine children. Helen graduated from Olympus High School in 1966.

Helen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served a mission in the Japan-Okinawa Mission from June 1970 to June 1972. Throughout her life, she served in many capacities within the church, most notably within her Lakeview Ward in Orem, Utah. This ward was like family, both to her and her parents over the years, and even more so to Helen after her mother passed in 2016. They played a significant role in helping her through the past two years of her health struggles.

After returning from her mission, Helen went to work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, UT in the membership department. She then moved to Phoenix, AZ, where she worked for Western Savings and Loan. She returned to Provo, UT to finish her education at Brigham Young University, graduating in Elementary Education in 1985. She started her lifelong profession that year as a talented and revered teacher at Highland Elementary in Highland, Utah. She kept countless binders of memories over the years about her experiences and the children she taught. She was selected as one of KSL’s teachers of the year due to her excellence in teaching. She retired in 2008.

Helen was a master quilter, as evidenced by the many quilts on display around her house. She also loved collecting and sharing family history and doing temple work. She was an avid gardener, receiving Orem’s yard of the year award. Helen loved Christmas, filling her house with decorations collected from events, places, and many gifts from family and friends over the years. She often left her decorations up through the month of January or longer.

Helen cared for both of her parents, especially her mother, for many years. The time and resources she spent on them is immeasurable. Because of that service, Helen cherished the many caregivers who assisted her throughout the past two years. She knew the value of that care and appreciated their kindness and service. Her last two years were more enjoyable because of their companionship. 

Helen is survived by her siblings: John Kitchen (Kay), Lander, WY; Fred Kitchen (Mariam), Belleville, IL; Weston Kitchen (Dorothy), Orem, UT; Ann Otto (Jack), Pleasant Grove, UT; Carolyn Killion (Ray), Gillette, WY; Joan Yocum (Michael), Provo, UT; and Doug Kitchen, St. George, UT; Many nieces and nephews and Grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Annie Kitchen; her sister and brother-in-law, Janae and Dallas Raty; and her sister-in-law Olga Kitchen, Doug’s wife.

An evening viewing for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 6th, from 6-8 pm at Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem. Funeral services will be on Friday, March 7th, at 11:00 am at the LDS Church located at 155 West 1600 South in Orem, with a viewing that morning at the church from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the service. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services in person, they can be viewed via YouTube Live on Wednesday, Friday, March 7th, at 11:00 am at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL2aPQmeMYc