Helen Orpha Woods 1906-2002

WOODS BAKER ELSER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/11/2011 at 00:11:46

Sioux City Journal
28 May 2002

.PIERSON, Iowa -- Helen O. Woods, 95, of Pierson died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at Kingsley Nursing and Rehab Center in Kingsley, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Pierson United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bill Cotten officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Earnest-Michaelson Funeral Home in Kingsley.

Helen Orpha Woods was born Oct. 11, 1906, on a farm east of Pierson, the daughter of George and Della (Baker) Elser. She attended country school and graduated from Pierson High School in 1923. After attending Morningside College in Sioux City and Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, she earned her teaching certificate. She taught in rural schools in Cherokee and Woodbury counties for five years.

At that time, the law stated ladies could not teach and be married at the same time, so Helen happily gave up teaching to become Mrs. Leo Woods in June 1931. They farmed near Washta, Iowa, and had a daughter, Kathryn, and a son, Ray. In 1943, they moved to Pierson, where she lived until December 1999, when she entered Kingsley Nursing and Rehab. Leo died in July 1976.

Helen was employed at the U.S. Post Office in Pierson from 1956 to 1976. Following her retirement, her interests included quilt making, church involvement, book reading, her flower garden, and baking award-winning sour cream raisin pies. For Christmas one year, she made quilts for every one of her children and grandchildren. Over the years, she received many ribbons at the county fairs for her quilts. She also participated in community and senior activities at Pierson, including its band, in which she played the accordion.

She was a member of Pierson United Methodist Church since age 15. She was a member of Esther Circle and a life member of United Methodist Women. She was a former member of Rebekah Lodge.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Ray and Jean Woods of Pierson; a daughter, Kathryn Harbeck of Sioux City; four grandchildren, Lori Harfield of Thornton, Colo., Suzanne Seiler of Sioux City, William S. Woods of Chicago, and Bryce Woods of Sioux City; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Marie Kilts of Meriden, Iowa, Frances Mulholland of Webster City, Iowa, and Vera Elser of Fresno, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ralph and Russel Elser; a sister-in-law, Louise Elser; a son-in-law, Sam Harbeck; a niece, Lila (Elser) Harvey; and two nephews, Loy and Ray Elser.