Helen Francis Tenney

Helen Watkins (Hally) Tenney, 94, of Casper, Wyoming passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024 at Life Care Center of Casper.

Hally and her identical twin sister Sally were born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Selma and Harlow Watkins on December 29, 1929. Hally graduated from high school in Carlton, Minnesota, and attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated with a degree in sociology. Waiting tables at a summer session of the University of Minnesota Biological Station at Lake Itasca she met her husband, Charles Sinclair Tenney. The two were married in Minneapolis on November 1, 1952. Chuck and Hally settled in Casper, Wyoming in 1954.

Not long after their wedding Hally was diagnosed with polio. She made a good recovery and went on to lead an active life playing golf and tennis, cross-country skiing and hiking. She was active in the Sweet Adelines, a women’s barber shop performance group, the Fine Arts Club of Casper, and Casper Geo-Wives. She was a faithful volunteer at the Wyoming Medical Center for many years. With a small group of families, she and her husband Chuck helped start Paradise Valley Christian Church in 1967 and were active church members there. They were also involved with The Gideons International for many years. Later in life Hally suffered from post-polio syndrome and was confined to a wheelchair, but she remained her outgoing, happy, and gracious self.

Hally is survived by her youngest sister, Marilyn Watkins Stevens of Los Alamos, New Mexico, her brother-in-law Dr. Frank Dennis (Sally), her daughters Carol Tenney Dillahunty of San Marcos, California, and Karen Tenney Hitchcock (Brian) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and her son David Charles Tenney (Maureen) of Casper, Wyoming. She was the beloved grandmother of Matthew Hitchcock (Jenny) of Richmond, VA, Corey Hitchcock Lavold (Alex) of Milwaukee, WI, Rachel Tenney Smith (Andrew) of Seattle, WA, Peter Tenney (Meghan) of Casper, WY and Zachary Tenney, who currently attends the University of Wyoming. Those who called her Gigi were her great-grandsons Caleb Hitchcock (8), Charlie (7), Jack (5), and Henry (2) Lavold. She was so excited for her soon-to-be-born great-granddaughter coming to parents Peter and Meghan.

Hally was preceded in death by her beloved husband Chuck Tenney, her parents Selma and Harlow Watkins, her brothers Harold Watkins, Kenneth Watkins (Shirley), John Watkins (Jean), and her twin sister, Sally.

A memorial service will be held in the Atrium of the Highland Park Church 5725 Highland Dr. Casper, Wyoming 82609 on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Family and friends are cordially invited.

Memorial donations may be made to the Gideons International at P.O. Box 801, Casper, Wyoming, 82602.