Helen Mary Whiton

Helen Mary (Kargela) Whiton, of Calumet, Swedetown location, MI, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2025, in Green Valley, AZ, at age 92. Helen was born in Swedetown on July 22, 1933, to William and Elma Kargela. She grew up in Swedetown, and attended Calumet schools. In June of 1952, Helen married Ronald Whiton (Evanston IL), while he was attending Michigan Tech. Upon graduation from Tech, Ron entered the Army, stationed in Alabama and Maryland. White Pine, MI, ended up being their hometown for many years, and is where they raised their five children. They also resided in Carlsbad, NM, Boise, ID, St. Louis, New York and Las Vegas, before retiring in Swedetown, where they reconnected with old friends and beloved family.

Helen was known as a very caring and generous spirit. Over the years, she volunteered with various groups, including the church pasty days in White Pine (a favorite), Meals on Wheels and the Keweenaw Historical Museum, to name a few. She and Ron enjoyed playing bridge with many groups over the decades. Helen was a woman of great optimistic spirit, finding a day of blue sky comforting during a cold and gray UP winter. She loved to reminisce about growing up in Swedetown, and many sought out her stories of baseball games, (Helen was known as the fastest pitch in town), clubhouses, a neighborhood full of children, and their many tales. Her memory of those days was exceptional, and she brought the neighborhood to life with her stories. Helen contributed to many books and publications of Swedetown history, and she was pleased to have been of such service, celebrating Swedetown.

As “Grandma,” she was a source of endless love and joy. Her grandchildren will always remember the laughter she sparked, the stories she told, and the way she knew what made each of them special. She was there for all the big milestones, no matter how far they had to travel. We all hold dear the memories she helped shape, especially the traditional trips through the Keweenaw, along the big lake, peppered with random moments of silliness and fun.

Helen’s deep faith was the quiet foundation of her life, guiding her actions and sustaining her, especially in her final years. She deeply loved her family, and her faith set an endearing example of meeting life’s joys and challenges with grace, finding peace in her relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald, parents, William and Elma Kargela, siblings: William, Carl, Dorothy, James, Roger, George, and Dan; son, Charles Whiton, granddaughter Jackelyn Zasadni, and great grandson, Cole Wishart Black. She is survived by a son, Alan (Monica) Whiton of Sevierville TN; daughters, Joan Whiton, Sharon (Wayne) Olson of Green Valley, AZ, Laura (Brian) Foster of Meridian, ID, 10 grandchildren, Ron, Shannon, Wendy, Jasmine, Phil, Dana, Amanda, Chelsey, Nicholas, and Alana, 12 great grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Karen Kargela, Calumet, brother John Kargela of Auburn Hills, MI, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.