Thoms, Helen E. 1913-2002

THOMS, SOUKUP, BILLINGS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/8/2009 at 20:00:20

LE MARS, Iowa -- Helen E. Thoms, 88, of Beresford, S.D., formerly of Le Mars, died Friday, June 14, 2002, at her residence.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars, with the Rev. Tim Olsen officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

Helen Ellenora Thoms was born July 25, 1913, near Remsen, Iowa, the daughter of John and Cecelia (Billings) Soukup. She attended country school before the family moved to a farm near Le Mars. Following her education, she helped her family with farming and housework.

On April 18, 1934, Helen and Maynard Thoms were united in marriage on her family's farm. The couple farmed near Le Mars until retiring in 1977. They remained on the farm until 1996. The couple lived with their daughter, Shirley, in Beresford for a brief time before moving to Plymouth Manor Nursing Home in Le Mars on April 1, 1997. Maynard passed away on April 9, 1997. She had been living with Shirley for the past three years.

She was a member of Presbyterian United Church of Christ. She had been active in Presbyterian United Church Women and taught Sunday school when she was able. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and vegetable and flower gardening.

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter and her husband, Shirley and Elwood Gylfe of Beresford; a son, Don Thoms of Le Mars; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a special family friend, Jeanette Thoms of Le Mars.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two grandsons, Michael Maynard Thoms and David Mark Gylfe; and a brother, Robert Soukup.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, June 18, 2002