Mary Matilda Heldt, 90, of Kent, WA, passed away at home in her sleep on March 4, 2022. Born on October 18, 1931, in Payette, Idaho, to Ernst “Andy” Hoeme and Esther (Schwertfeger) Hoeme, she was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and member of her community.
A 1949 graduate of Payette High School, Mary married James Hobart Heldt, whom she met in a high school church group, on September 23, 1951. The couple settled initially in Ontario, Oregon, and together raised four sons and two daughters. They celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary in September 2021.
Mary was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church who played the organ and piano for several congregations. She played the violin, as well, enjoyed reading, sewing, cooking, assembling jigsaw puzzles, and watching baseball. She was also an avid letter writer who reg- ularly corresponded with her large family and many friends.
Though Mary spent many years in the home, raising her children and babysitting the children of others, she distinguished herself in the workplace. She worked as a clerk in the Payette County Courthouse, as a secretary for the East Oregonian newspaper in Pendleton, Oregon, and later as a secretary for the Auburn School District.
Mary was a longtime resident of South King County. She moved to Renton with her family in 1968 and, except for four years in Oregon, was a permanent member of the community.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Isabella Hoeme and Olga (Hoeme) Stewart, and grandsons Sean Heldt and Douglas Heldt.
Mary is survived by her loving husband of seventy years and many others whose lives she touched. They include: Daughters: Esther (Heldt) Johnson and her husband, Jon, of Kent; and Anna Heldt of Seattle. Sons: Jim Heldt and his significant other, Naomi Gratz, of Roy; John Heldt and his wife, Cheryl, of Henderson, Nevada; David Heldt and his wife, Tammy, of Lake Tapps; and Tim Heldt and his wife, Nancy, of Meridian, Idaho. Grandchildren: Mary (Johnson) Pislaan of Renton; Rebekah (Johnson) Ward of Boise, Idaho; Andrew Johnson of Kent; Lacy Heldt of Waco, Texas; Dan Heldt of Pasco; Heidi Heldt-Stotts of Sandpoint, Idaho; Amy Heldt of Washington, D.C.; Matthew Heldt of Meridian, Mississippi; and Trevor Heldt of Lake Tapps. Mary is also survived by ten great-grandchildren.
A graveside service for family will take place at Hillcrest Burial Park in Kent. Edline-Yahn and Covington Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Mary’s life on March 19 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 23810 112th Avenue S.E., Kent.
Donations in Mary’s name can be made to Lutheran Church of the Cross, Mary Heldt Memorial.
