MRS. DOROTHY HELDE

Dorothy Irene Helde, of Crocker, was born March 3, 1912, in St. Louis, one of eight children, to Roy E. and Goldie Irene (Staub) Williams and departed this life on Sunday, March 11, 2012, at her home in Crocker. Mrs. Helde had attained the age of 100 years and 8 days.

Mrs. Helde was united in marriage to Delbert Charles Helde, a divorcee with one child, Kay, who moved into their home as an early teenager. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; by her parents; three brothers, Roy, Eugene and Norman Williams; and two sisters, Jeanette Gabrielson and Margaret Axtell.

Dorothy and Delbert decided to seek a quieter and less stressful city life and they purchased property with several spring fed ponds near Crocker with the objective to start a business raising minnows for sale. The business was not successful and they both found employment with a construction company at Ft. Leonard Wood. The construction company relocated to Rolla, and they both worked there until their retirement. Following the sale of their home, they moved to a rental house near Crocker and purchased a lot in town with the intention of building a new home, this plan was not accomplished and the lot was disposed of.

Dorothy and Delbert were instrumental in establishing a community housing project in Crocker with financing provided by the Federal Government. Dorothy served as the Treasurer of the project, without compensation, saw the debt to the government paid in full during her tenure, and retired reluctantly, due to failing eyesight.

In 1991, Mrs. Helde purchased a single family home in Crocker and lived there the rest of her days. Fortunately, her next door neighbors "adopted" her as their grandmother and they looked after her and her home in more ways than can be described.

Mrs. Helde was a member of the Crocker Presbyterian Church and the Crocker Ladies Ambulance auxiliary. She was a determined, self sufficient woman with a quick mind, meticulous in all things, an excellent bookkeeper, avid reader, active in her church and community affairs, wife and companion to her late husband, mother to her step-daughter, participating on bowling teams and driving her car up into her early nineties. Mrs. Helde maintained her home and was determined to avoid a stay in assisted living or a nursing home in her last years, and with the help of her step-daughter and the good offices of the Pulaski County Public Administrator, her wishes were fulfilled.

Mrs. Helde believed in God and a sign hung on her wall that said something to the effect "there is nothing that me and God cannot do, so don't worry."

Those left to cherish the memories of Mrs. Helde include: her step-daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Gene Voslow, Rockville, Maryland; one brother, Willie Williams, Arnold; one sister, Ruth Stapp, St. Louis; three step-grandchildren, Cynthia, Michael and Richard; five step-great-grandchildren, Christopher, Robert, Olivia, Harrison and Hunter; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Helde at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 16, 2012, in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Crocker with Rev. Doug Scott, Crocker Presbyterian Church, officiating. Two musical selections of "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" were played for the service.

Interment was in the Crocker Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker. Honorary Pallbearers for Mrs. Helde were Charlotte Stone, Skylor Clark, Michelle Durreman, Kori Taylor and Amanda Ashlock. .