Helen Higman Leidemann, an archaeologist and research specialist with the Bishop Museum, died yesterday at her Kailua home. She was 52.

Leidemann was the wife of Advertiser staff writer Mike Leidemann.

Helen Leidemann was born in Baltimore and earned degrees in anthropology from Northwestern University and the University of Guam. In 1980, the Leidemanns came to Hawai'i so Helen could participate in a two-year East-West Center program.

As part of the program, she was required to do volunteer work, and she picked the Bishop Museum. When the program ended, Leidemann was hired as an archaeologist and worked at the museum until recently.

Her primary duty at the museum was the archaeological study of the Halawa Valley and the Windward side of the Ko'olau Range during the construction of the H-3 Freeway. As the freeway work began to wind down, many of the dozens of people involved in the study left, leaving Leidemann as one of the only ones left to complete the study.

Longtime friend Carla Kishinami said Leidemann was determined to finish the report. Kishinami is the collection manager for vertebrates in the museum's natural sciences department.

"She was very dedicated to the museum," Kishinami said. "She wound up being the last person to work on the H-3 still here at the museum, and she was finishing up reports from notes that were written years ago by people who are no longer here. And she did an unbelievable job."

Even while she was fighting breast cancer, Leidemann wanted to bring home the notes so she could continue to work.

"That was part of her loyalty," said Mike Leidemann. "She really wanted to finish up the reports that were owed to the Department of Transportation, and it was real important to her."

Although she was serious about her work, Helen Leidemann also had a funny side, and she had a way with words.

"I really loved her sense of humor," Kishinami said. "She had a way of telling a story that would just make you laugh."

Mike Leidemann said his wife also enjoyed working in the garden and relaxing with a book.

"One thing I was always amazed at was she would get a new book, and she would stay up for 36 hours and read it straight, and then go to sleep. She had the ability to really delve into something when she was into it, and be passionate about it."

Besides her husband, Helen Leidemann is survived her parents, Dr. Henry and Betty Higman; sister, Susan Larsen; and brothers, Harry and Steven Higman.

A funeral service was pending.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.