Helen Slawson Beckerhoff

Helen Slawson Beckerhoff, 98, of Melbourne, FL since 2015, passed away Friday, February 21, 2020. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Minnie (Harris) of Los Angeles and Dr. Alexander Slawson of New York; her brothers Dr. John Slawson, and Robert Slawson and her husband Werner H. Beckerhoff, Sr. Helen leaves her daughter, Vera LaRoe and her husband Dennis of Melbourne, FL and son, Werner H. Beckerhoff, Jr. and his wife Mercedes of Okhay Owingeh, N.M. Helen and her late husband Werner owned and operated The Lantern ski lodge on the Main Street of Stowe, Vermont from the late 1940's until the late 1960's. After Werner passed, she transformed her handcrafted jewelry store, The Silver Shop, into Beckerhoff Jewelers, Ltd which was the first large jewelry store in Stowe. Many wedding rings were designed by her and she even married people as a justice of the peace. After selling that business and home, she continued staying in touch with people while working at Stowe Gems. She was instrumental at the state level of organizing and representing craftsmen on the board of Allied Craftsmen of Vermont in the early years of the modern handcraft movement. Helen was civic minded. She was a member of the Stowe chapter of the League of Women Voters and served as a Selectwoman and on the Planning Commission. She was a secretary of the Stowe Area Association which was the early hotel reservation system. She belonged to the National League of American Pen Women's Vermont Chapter. She even trod the theatrical boards in Hyde Park, Vermont. Mostly she was a proud lifelong Democrat. She never wearied of travel. Graduating from high school at age 16 she traveled to England and was called home by the start of WWII. After the war and completing her bachelor's degree at Pratt Institute, she and Werner moved to Stowe at the beginning of the ski industry movement to start their family. When the kids were grown, she was off again for a solo 3 month around the world trip. She went to China in the early 1980's and then return again for a nine-month stint to teach English as a second language after getting her master's from St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont. She was an intrepid traveler whose journey continues beyond what Elon Musk could offer. To infinity and beyond! Plans are to celebrate her life in Stowe this summer. Donations can be made to any organization of your choosing.