August 21, 1934 — March 4, 2023
Hermine “Helena” Louise Lentfer Sohl passed peacefully, surrounded by loving family on March 4, 2023, in Ashland.
Helena was born Aug. 21, 1934, to Hank and Rose Lentfer in Livingston, Montana. She spent her summers in and around Yellowstone Park and Flathead Lake, Montana. She graduated from Montana State University in June of 1955 with a degree in education and was married to Jack Sohl of Great Falls, Montana, the day after her graduation.
Helena gave birth to two sons, Bryan and Eric. She then obtained a master’s degree in nursing from Sacramento State University. She worked a satisfying career as a school nurse at San Juan High School and El Camino High School in the Sacramento area. Later she was a public health nurse in Napa, California.
She was a passionate biker. Helena biked in Europe, the length of the Oregon Coast, and then from the coast to Ashland over the Bear Camp Road. She also biked to Ashland from Sacramento to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
She moved to Ashland in 1991 to be near family. For a while she worked in the office of Dr. Bill Sager. While in Ashland she was very active in the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Helena served as a volunteer for many years at the Ashland Food Bank. She served on the board of the food bank and also the Ashland Community Health Center, where she served as board president. She was a beloved member of Ashland’s Presbyterian and Congregational churches as well as the Buddhist community.
Helena is survived by her brother Jack, her son Bryan, six grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is preceded in death by her parents and her son Eric. She was buried March 6 in a beautiful snowy service at the Forest Conservation Burial Ground at Willow-Witt Ranch during a wonderful snowstorm.
Helena’s memorial will be held starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the Ashland Congregational United Church of Christ, 717 Siskiyou Blvd.
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March 28 update: Due to a scheduling conflict, the celebration of life may have to be held on a date other than originally announced.
April 9 update: Memorial time and date added and name of organization for which she served as board president corrected.
