Thank you for a wonderful bio of Aiti’s life on this earth. I did not know about many of Helen’s experiences and pursuits. ❤️

I guess it goes without saying that her devotion and love for her Savior Jesus Christ was the heartbeat of her life. And the evidence of that was woven into the fabric of her life and in every relationship she held.
I remember her countless methods for memorizing scripture. Methods for children, and for adults.
Helen had a heart for lost and hurting people.
On many occasions she welcomed them into her home and into her life. There was no fanfare about it. She just did things. Brave things. The fact that Helen was one of my dearest friends, and the fact that we had many many differences in the realm of preferences, says so much about my relationship to Helen, to Aiti (as my children called her).
Luke told me recently, after I shared with him she had gone to be with Jesus, he said, “I just saw Aiti at Costco, she came up to talk to me.”

This is a link to some photo I have taken of Helen over the years.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/spXyzBAbFYq34NuV9

As I learned about Helen thru family, the few times I spent with her alone, I found her to be a very peaceful, calm and relaxing person. She always had a positive word to encourage someone and you could tell she was close to God. I’ll miss her and wish I could have had lots more time with her and her family. Loved getting her letter every Christmas. And the pictures included. I have two brothers who married two of Helen’s sisters.

Helen was truly a servant. A servant that never transitioned into retirement. (:
A servant to her family, the church body, and so many others that the Lord brought into her life. Helen made several trips to rural Alaska (even teaching Vacation Bible School and serving in all-day ministry in White Mountain in her 70s), filled countless communion cups, taught and proclaimed to generations the word of God, and invited many, many people to be guests at her home. Thank you, Helen, for your love and example. May the Lord continue to comfort her precious family and friends as we remember God's promises that Helen fully trusted in.
Psalm 92:12-15
'The righteous flourish like a palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD:
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age:
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright:
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him'.

Helen Paajanen was a blessing in my life. When I was a childed she helped me diagram those sentences and made such an impact for the Pro life movement for me. Piling kids up in the suburban to help volunteer at the pro life clinic in Anchorage. It was her influence that helped us start two pro life clinics which helped save thousands of babies lifes. She was the one adult that always said, "Let me see you tongue and do you want a drink of cod liver oil for a treat??" Lol!! Has an adult I always felt I should show my tongue to Helen and see if i was still healthy. Helen's love, kindness and laughter will carry on with her wonderful children Alana, Daniel and Coco and Grandchildren. Let's all try to be a little more like Helen on this earth. She was and is a good and faithful servant to our Lord and Savior.  Nicole Nicolaysen

So many good things to say about Helen. She & I & our Husbands have known each other for years, but came to be good friends when our husbands went to be w/Jesus. I consider her my best friend. I am missing her so much. We did many things together & had a lot in common. We agreed politically & spiritually.
She was a special person. Always the one to volunteer if a need came up. After the earthquake in 2018, the Paajanen Family, came to help us clean up our home. Helen, her kids & Grandkids.
She was a a Godly woman & a good friend & I am so thankful for the time we had together. I know we’ll see each other again , but would liked to have had her here a while longer. Love you Helen. ❤️❤️

Memories from Helen's Finnish relatives: Helen and Lori came to visit the Kaisaniemi family in Finland for two weeks in 2015. They stayed with my family (Matti, Tanja, Pinja and Venla Kaisaniemi) and they also stayed with my father Aimo, Helen's second cousin, and his wife Leena. We also took Helen and Lori to meet Helen's two other second cousins, late Tauno Linnus in Nokia near Tampere and Petri Linnus at the Linnus farm in Mouhijärvi. It is very emotional to think about the time we had together with Helen and Lori. We had such a wonderful two weeks with them.

A story from the past goes: It was hayday at the Linnus farm in Mouhijärvi. A couple of the brothers threw their haysticks to the ground and said: we are going to the United States.

I cannot even imagine what it must have felt like for Helen to visit the farm here in Finland. It was humbling to be a part of arranging this trip for Helen and Lori to see where their ancestors come from.

The Kaisaniemi and Linnus Families in Finland are always so thankful for all of your love for us. It means so much to us that we stay in touch.

Helen will always be in our hearts.

On behalf of all Suomi relatives,

Matti & Tanja

My first trip to Alaska was Summer of 1972. A trip I will never forget. With my cousin Carl, we were helping in the very early stages of building Helen & Wes' forever home. One of my memories was on a 3 day rafting trip, a tube of float patching cement broke open in one of the packs that held our candy bars. Helen tried one of the obviously affected bars and aptly named them "glue bars"... we choked down our glue bars the rest of the trip. She was an amazing God Fearing woman and someday we'll meet again in the Glorious Heaven in which she spoke of often. With Love and Gratitude.
Nephew Bill

Thank You Sara that was beautiful!

And so was Helen….that pic by the river looks like an Eppie painting!

Peace to all the Paijanen’s ….

Helen was the 1st Saint I met when I moved to The Valley. I didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus in 1970 but because of Helen, Wes and my husband who were not ashamed to share The Good News, I am a follower of Jesus. I look forward to eternity in heaven. The list of Helen's attributes are numerous but I am grateful for her encouragement, her standing firm for what is right and her hand writing (it is worth framing!) She loved and lived well. I can't even imagine my life on earth without her. So grateful. Psalm 116:15 Precious is Helen in the sight of The Lord.