LaVina Minnie Rae Finnegan Helm 1941-2012

FINNEGAN HELM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2012 at 11:29:19

Sioux City Journal
April 04, 2012

Lavina Rae Helm, 70, of Granby, Colo., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at the home of her daughter near Lisco, Neb.

A celebration of life service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Emmanuel Community Church, Fort Street, in Bassett, Neb., with the Rev. Dennis Quigley officiating.

LaVina Minnie Rae Finnegan Helm was born June 17, 1941, in Lincoln, Neb. She grew up in Sioux City and graduated from Central High in 1959.

On June 8, 1963, Rae married Merlin Helm from Rose, Neb. They resided on the ranch near Rose, where the couple raised two daughters. In 1985, Merlin and Rae sold the ranch and moved to Bassett. In 2005, the couple moved to Ogallala, Neb., where Rae became involved in many volunteer activities and provided child care for the Knoke family. Rae and Merlin celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary shortly before he passed away in 2008. In October 2010, Rae retired to Granby in Grand County, Colo.

Rae is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Teresa and Lyle Sherfey of Lisco, and Maureen Helm of Granby, Colo.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Mary Ann Finnegan of Sun City, Ariz., Jim Finnegan of Sioux City, Don and Jeannie Finnegan of Glendale, Ariz.; a sister and brother-in-law, Mike and LaDonna "Kay" Olsen of Sioux City; brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Judy Helm of Anderson, Ind.; aunt, Earline "Judy" Morris of Baker City, Ore.; grandchildren Andrew, and wife, Candice Sherfey of Oshkosh, Neb., and Stephanie and husband, Matt Gilbert of Pasadena, Md.; great-grandchildren, Atley and Landra Sherfey; and 12 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin; and her parents, Thomas and LaVina Finnegan.