BERNE — Helen A. Methe, who taught business at Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School, died on March 12, 2016 at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi, after a short illness. She was 81.

She was born in Albany, the eldest daughter of Martin and Margarete Meister. After graduating from Vincentian Institute in Albany, she graduated from Syracuse University where she met her husband-to-be, Victor Methe.

Married for 58 years, they lived, worked, and raised two sons in Massachusetts, and New Jersey, before the family moved to Berne in 1970. Mrs. Methe was an active member of the Berne Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, and began her New York  career teaching at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School.

She enjoyed teaching business and typing classes to hundreds of students during her tenure at BKW High School before retiring to pursue her passion of camping and travel. Mrs. Methe and her husband enjoyed travelling across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

She is survived by her husband, Victor Methe; her son Richard Methe and his wife,  Allison, and their son, Iain; her son, Edward Methe, and his partner, Andrew Helling;  her sister, Carolyn, and her husband, Joe Rynasko; as well as many good friends in Berne and Altamont.

A memorial service will be held in her honor Saturday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lucy Church, 109 Grand St. in Altamont. Memorial donations may be sent to the Berne Volunteer Fire Department, Post Office Box 187, Berne, NY  12023.