Posted: 06/28/09

Feb. 10, 1972 -- June 24, 2009

Charmon Rene Helmick-Pentecost was born and raised in Townsend. Beginning early in her grade school years, Charmon grew to dislike her given name. She was driven to distraction by the suggestion that she was squeezably soft. Eventually Charmon was shortened to Char, and it suited her. Char graduated from Broadwater County High School in 1989. Following high school, Char attended three semesters at Western Montana College and then transferred to Carroll College where she completed a BA in history in 1993. During her college years, Char gave tours at the Montana State Capitol and the original Governor's Mansion and later served as board chairwoman. She also spent one summer in Germany studying abroad. After graduation, Char worked for two years in The Constituent Services for Montana's congressman at large. She then accepted an administrative assistant position at Carroll College, where she was instrumental in starting up the Army ROTC Program. In the spring of 1998, Char met and fell in love with Karl Pentecost of Butte. The couple was married on July 3, 1999, in the Cathedral of St. Helena and over the years was blessed with two sons, Evan, 6, and Layne, 2.

Char possessed a wonderful balance of quick wit, intellect and athleticism. She was a member of the World Atlatl Association and was a world class competitor. Char enjoyed skiing, golf and boating. She loved to shop for and restore antiques. Char and Karl co-owned Legacy Electric since September 2004. Over the years, Char has remained active in the Montana community as a volunteer with the Montana Historical Society and with the Military Affairs Committee. Her efforts are apparent this weekend as the USAF Thunderbirds perform in the skies above Helena.

Char was tragically killed in a highway accident and will be forever missed by her two sons, Evan and Layne; parents, Troy and Shirley Helmick of Townsend; sisters, Rhonda Helmick of Buckhannon, W.Va., Leslie Owen of Billings, Coleene Rychalski of Alexandria, Va.; brothers, Brent Helmick of Monterey, Calif., Dean Helmick of Plattsmouth, Neb.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Hagler-Anderson Chapel. Char and Karl will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Helena following a funeral at the Cathedral of St. Helena at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 29. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home.