Helen Belfrage 1916-2005

BELFRAGE, BARTELS, RUNGE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 18:55:08

Helen Belfrage
April 28, 1916-April 15, 2005

Helen M. Belfrage, 88 of Onawa, Iowa, died Friday, April 15, 2005 at Burgess Health Center, Onawa.

Helen was born April 28, 1916 at Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Anna (Bartels) Runge. She graduated from Dakota City (Nebraska) High School in 1933 and had secretarial training at Nettleton Business Training College in Sioux City. She was employed at the Farm Bureau Office in Dakota City.

She married John Belfrage February 15, 1941 in Dakota City, NE. The couple farmed near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and later made their home in Sergeant Bluff. Helen worked in the 185th Cafeteria and also the Sergeant Bluff-Luton School Cafeteria. The couple moved to Onawa in 1984. John passed away November 24, 1990 in Omaha, NE. Helen has resided at Elmwood Care Centre the past eight years.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Onawa and active in UMW and was also a 4-H leader.

Survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Joan and Charles Petersen of Onawa, Julie and Maynard Rowson of Damascus, Syria and Anita and Leroy Bray of Rosalie, NE; three sons, John and his wife Paula of Pierce, CO, Wilfred and his wife, Cindy of Tekamah, NE and Winston of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and another due in August.

In addition to her husband, John, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Earl Runge and a daughter-in-law, Sheryl Belfrage.

Memorial services were 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2005, at the United Methodist Church at Onawa with Pastor Chuck Layton, officiating. Music selections were the congregation singing, "Hymn of Promise" and a solo "On Eagle's Wings". Ivagene Baxley was soloist and Ruth Jordan was organist. Visitation was 2:00-4:00 Sunday, April 17, 2005 at the church. Arrangements were under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa.

Honorary bearers were Ruth Anne Petersen, Sarah Cordray, Geoffrey Bray, Julie Bray, Kirsten Cousin, Brice Thompson, Seth Thompson, Sean Belfrage, Kenneth John Belfrage, Korey Behr, Kyle Behr, Dusty Belfrage, Danny Belfrage, Brittni Buffum, Jessi Behr, Trent Behr, Shelby Behr, Krameron Behr and Taylor Buffum.