31/10/2026
The National WWII Museum mourns the loss of WWII Rosie the Riveter and dear friend Helen Spaid Leqve, who passed away Monday at age 104.
Born in Utah, Leqve grew up in Minnesota and was studying nursing when World War II broke out. She soon moved to Burbank, California, where she spent three years riveting B-17 Flying Fortresses at Lockheed. Leqve then went to work for the War Department at Hill Field, an Army airfield near Ogden, Utah, performing a variety of jobs, including assembling ri**es, repairing planes, and working in a parts depot. In early 1945, she married a soldier she had met at Hill Field; after the war, they bought a farm in Byron, Minnesota, where they raised four children.
In recognition of the group’s invaluable contributions, the Rosie the Riveters of World War II were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024. Leqve was among the Rosies honored with The National WWII Museum's 2026 American Spirit Award. We are grateful for Ms. Leqve's service and friendship, and our thoughts are with her family.
