BRIGHTWELL, Helen E. 1905-2004

BRIGHTWELL

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 12/1/2004 at 21:36:11

Helen Elizabeth Brownlee Nelson Brightwell, died at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood on Nov. 27, 2004 of natural causes. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004, 2 p.m., at the Northwood United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wendi Gillan officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood. Visitation will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004 at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood.

Helen was born in Charlton, Iowa on March 17, 1905 to Frank and Elizabeth (Cain) Brownlee. Prior to her marriage, Helen taught school in Williamson and Sabula, Iowa. She married Russell T. Nelson in 1929 in Charlton, Iowa. They moved to Northwood in 1930, and lived in Cedar Rapids between 1943 and 1947. They returned to Northwood when R.T. became manager of the Northwood Co-op Elevator Helen was an active member in Chapter ES of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Eastern Star, Past Matrons of Eastern Star, Inter Se, Semper Fidelle, Garden Club and the United Methodist Women. For many years she taught Sunday School and Bible School both at Northwood Untied Methodist and St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. She volunteered as a Camp Fire Girls group leader in Cedar Rapids and a Girl Scout troop leader in Northwood. Throughout her life, Helen enjoyed the responsibilities of leadership and membership in her many activities and charities. She loved to play bridge and participated with several bridge clubs. Her many travels throughout the world brought her much pleasure.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Russell,"R.T." Nelson in 1969. She remarried in 1979 to Kenneth Brightwell, a friend from her Charlton days, who passed in 1984. She was also preceded in death by sisters Olive Groth and Meda Large, and her brother Leland Brownlee.

Survivors include her son Frank Nelson of Northwood, daughter; Mada (Bob) Jensen of Homestead, FL; stepdaughter Marjorie Otteson of California; grandchildren Scott Nelson, Des Moines Wayne Nelson, Iowa City; Russell Jensen, Robert Jensen, Glen Burnie, Maryland; Christian (April) Jensen of Gainesville, GA; Jessica (Doug) Sahres of San Antonio, TX; great grandchildren Christopher Jensen, Kaitlin and Joshua Sahres, Julie Otteson, and Hilari Woody; sister Margaret Latta of Kalamazoo, MI, and many nieces, nephews, great great grandchildren and their families.

Source: Northwood Anchor Online, 12/01/2004