Helms worked to establish Fairbanks' ties with the international community through sister city agreements both during and after her tenure as mayor.

[3] She grew up in Michigan,[4] and her family moved to Alaska in 1951[3] when her father joined United States Army Corps of Engineers.

[4] Helms attended Lathrop High School[3] and after graduation she worked as a court clerk and later an administrative assistance for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

[2] After $670,866 of school bond money was lost in an investment, her administration was investigated[7]and found to have violated the borough's finance laws.

[10] During her campaign, her opposition pointed to her handling of the 1986 financial issues, while her supporters focused on cost-cutting measures and other savings her administration had made.

One of her companions, Melissa Chapin, thought that Helms would attempt to join and face arrest, saying "I was afraid [...] I was going to have to call back to Fairbanks and tell them the mayor was in jail.

"[3] Yakutsk and Fairbanks became sister cities, a move for which Helms was later credited by Mark Begich in front of the United States Senate.

[21] Helms remained politically and socially active until her death, writing letters to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner[22] and continuing her volunteer work and involvement in sister city programs.