HELLUM, Viola Ruby (Peck) --- 1912-2002

DECOU, PECK, HELLUM, VANWAY, ZIMMERMAN, JOHNSON, GILSON

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/6/2011 at 11:53:05

Viola Hellum

Funeral services for Viola Hellum were held Wednesday, February 20, 2002, at 2 p.m. in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville, Iowa. The Reverend James Allison officiated. The organist was Joann Martins. The casket bearers were James Johnson, Rodney Gilson, John Gilson, Larry VanWey, Scot VanWey.

Viola Ruby Hellum, the third child of August and Ethel (DeCou) Peck, was born January 23, 1912, in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, near Ossian, Iowa. She passed away Sunday morning, February 17, 2002, in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa. She had reached the age of 90 years and 24 days.

She was baptized April 1, 1912 in the Lutheran Church at Ossian. Viola attended the rural schools in Winneshiek County and graduated from the Ossian High School. She attended Iowa State Teacher College at Cedar Falls, Iowa for one year. She taught school until her marriage.

On March 4, 1939 Viola was married to Kenneth Realto Hellum at the home of her parents by the Reverend Magelson. To this union four children were born, Darlene, Dorothy, Jean, and Curtis. Following their marriage, Viola helped in Kenneth's parents Jack Sprat Grocery Store. In 1941 they began farming at the Herbronsen farm near Gunder. In 1946 they moved to the Anderson farm near Ossian. In 1949 they moved to the Luana-Postville area. They purchased that farm in 1952 and lived there until moving to Postville in 1971.

Viola spent her married life working on the farm with her husband. Following their move to Postville, Viola went to work at the Good Samaritan the first year it was opened. She began as a nurse's aide and later worked in the dietary department. Viola enjoyed her job there very much since she liked helping people. She became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in 1995.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Kenneth, who died in 1993, a son, Curtis Hellum, who died in 1970, as the result of a car accident shortly after returning home from serving in the Air Force in Viet Nam, two brothers, Walter Peck and Eldo Peck, and two sisters, Mildred Hellum and Hazel Zimmerman.

Surviving are three daughters, Darlene (Keith) Johnson, Dorothy (Curtis) Gilson, all of Elgin, Iowa, and Jean (Jack) Greenwood of Carrolton, Texas; 12 grandchildren, Julie (Mike) Knox, Janis (Mike) Clarkson, James (Donna) Johnson, Joy (Paul) Gross, Rodney (Melody) Gilson, John (Candice) Gilson, Dawn (Rob) Wright, Scot (Becky) VanWey, Jill Taylor, Larry (Amy) VanWey, Mark VanWey, Greg (Jackie) VanWey; 17 great grandchildren, Chad Rasmussen, Corey Rasmussen, Jordan Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Taylor Gross, Peyton Gross, Jadyn Gilson, Bobby Wright, Sierra Gilson, Travis VanWey, Miranda Taylor, Brittney Taylor, Josh VanWey, Logan VanWey, Ashlyn VanWey, Dustin VanWey, Christian VanWey.

Also surviving is a brother, George Peck of Ossian, Iowa and a sister, Mabel Johnson, of San Diego, California, and several Nieces and nephews.

Viola was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Women of the ELCA. She served as a 4-H Leader for two years, was a meal site volunteer, and a member of the Senior Citizens organization from 1972 to 1992. Viola kept the records for the Centennial Cemetery and was a member of the Postville Historical Society.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.