Helena Ridley Masters Swimmers

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Helena dubs July 15 'Flora Wong Day,' honoring survivor, businesswoman, athlete and 'amazing lady' Flora Wong is a survivor of the Second Sino-Japanese War, a businesswoman, a Helena Hall of Fame athlete, and the honored woman behind Flora Wong Day.

Flora was a long time Helena masters swimmer. She has 130 USMS Top Ten swims, three individual All-American swims, was part of two All-American relays, and was featured in the January/February issue of SWIMMER magazine. Her son, Poy, is a current member of the Helena Ridleys. Thanks for the heads-up, Jim Dole! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WssWxtzrt51YibMk/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Flora Lee Wong was born October 1, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1936, she and her family boarded a passenger ship in Seattle for a twenty-one-day passage across the Pacific Ocean to Hong Kong. They settled in their new home in Guangdong Province, China. Although the boys in the family received an education, Flora and her sisters spent most time working to help provide for their family.

In January 1947, Flora married Helena merchant Charlie Wong, who traveled from Montana to Hong Kong to meet and marry her before returning to the United States. The two wrote each other frequently while she waited in Hong Kong for her visa. She was finally able to emigrate and join Charlie in Helena on December 10, 1948. By 1955 Flora and Charlie had four girls and one boy in their growing family. Charlie was the owner of Wing Shing Grocery at 108 South Main. In 1967, Flora joined the American Business Women’s Association, and inherited Charlie’s business after his untimely death in 1968. Flora closed the store in November 1970, and opened, in partnership with George and Irene Wong, the Chinese Kitchen and Oriental Gift Shop on Euclid Avenue in August 1973. In retirement, she participated in competitive running and swimming, and was named the Montana Big Sky Athlete of the Year in 1999. She was also honored as a member of the Helena Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Photograph: Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives. PAc 2009-11.3. Flora Wong circa 1948.

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