Helen Louise Birchard 1912 - 2002

BIRCHARD, MELLOTT, PRICHARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/16/2013 at 22:38:21

Sloan Starlet
20 March 2002

Helen Louise Birchard, 89, of Whiting, Iowa, formerly of Hornick, Iowa, died Friday, February 1, 2002, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

Helen was born April 17, 1912, in rural Hornick, Iowa, the daughter of Jay and Emily (Mellott) Prichard. She spent her life in the Hornick area, graduating from Hornick High School in 1930. On March 16, 1931, she married Lawrence Birchard at Hornick. He operated a milk route until they bought a farm in 1936 near Hornick. The couple were married for 51 years before Lawrence died on July 18, 1982. Helen, a strong and independent woman, continued to live in her home until April 2001, when she entered Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting.

A true inspiration to her family and friends, she lovingly made many beautiful, prize-winning quilts for each of her children and grandchildren.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Hornick, various quilt guilds; the Brown School Club, and a former member of Rebekah Lodge.

She is survived by her children, a son and his wife, David and Jane Birchard of Camas, Washington; three daughters, Ruth Lloyd of Omaha, Nebraska, Lucile and her husband, Ronald Lapin of Sister Bay, Wisconsin, and Carol and her husband, Carl Crees, of Leon, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Paul and Phyllis Prichard of Mapleton and Stewart and Justine Prichard of Hornick; and two sisters, Effie Till of Hornick and Grace Parker of Orange, California; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant daughter, Louise; three brothers, Basil, Gordon, and Fred Prichard; and a sister, Dorothy Reznek.

Services were held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2002, at the United Methodist Church, Hornick, Iowa, with Pastor Carolyn Bittner officiating. Mrs. Jane Madsen was the organist. Mr. Ralph Lloyd sang "How Great Thou Art". The congregational hymns were "Amazing Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross".

The casket bearers, grandsons, were Ralph Lloyd, Craig Crees, Mike Lapin, Steve Lapin, Norman Lapin and Sam Lapin.

Interment was in Grant Township Cemetery at Rodney, Iowa, with arrangements by the Willman Funeral Home, Rodney, Iowa.