Helphrey, Afra E. (Gibford) 1916-2001

HELPHREY, GIBFORD, KRAMER, THOMPSON

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 5/1/2005 at 16:06:23

The Bismarck Tribune Jan 14, 2001
Helphrey, Afra E. (Gibford)

Afra E. "Ott" Helphrey, 84, 2425 Hillview Ave, Bismarck, died Jan. 13, 2001, in a Bismarck care center. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. George's Episcopal Church, Bismarck, with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. -- 9p.m. Wednesday at Dakota Memorial Chapel.

Afra E. Gibford was born May 28, 1916, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Ray and Anna Gibford. She was raised in Newton, Iowa. She attended school there and at St. Katherine's Episcopal School in Davenport, Iowa. She granduated from High School in Newton, Iowa in 1933.

"Ott" married Earl L. Helphrey on May 16, 1937, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Newton, Iowa. They lived in many different cities, raising their children in Sidney, Mont., and Bismarck. They spent the last 20 years in Bismarck, their "dream retirement place." They enjoyed many years at Lake Isabel, fishing and being with nature. Earl died in 1990.

"Ott" worked in various retail markets throughout her life, as well as raising their three children and caring for the elders in her family. As important as her boys were to her, she was involved in many years of scouting. She and Earl enjoyed teaching square and round dancing. She took joy in volunteering her reading services to the blind, by radio, and in the North Dakota State Library for several years. Ott was faithful in her religion and was currently a member of St. George's Episcopal Church.

She is survived by her three sons and two daughters-in-law, Dave, and his special friend, Carol; Bill and Pam, and Jim and Peggy, all of Bismarck; six grandchildren, Elizabeth and her husband, Tim Kramer, and Luke, all of Bismarck, Scott, San Clemente, Calif., Ray, Palm Springs, Calif., Jim W., New Town, and Kris and her husband, Jim Thompson, Sioux Falls, S.D., and four great-grandchildren, Samantha and Courtney Kramer, Bismarck, and Mason Helphrey and Megan Thompson, Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Earl. Submitter's Comments: Mrs. Helphrey was born near, raised and married in Newton, IA

Originally submitted on Sat Jan 25 09:10:32 2003 by Dee Helphrey Stamper (Deceased)