Helen Mary (Johnson) THOMPSON NELSON

NELSON, JOHNSON, HUNST, THOMPSON, WHIPPLE, MOORE, JELIK, SCHLICHTING, MAHONEY, MANITA, EPSTEIN, LUND, MYLAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/30/2006 at 00:43:26

April 27, 2006
©Belmond Independent 2005

Helen Mary Nelson, 90, a life long resident of Belmond, died on Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at the Belmond Health Care Center. Funeral services were held on April 23 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, with Rev. Rod Hopp officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery. Music was provided by Eldoris Bunnell, organist and Marilyn Janssen, soloist. Ushers were Al Olson and Al Charlson. Casket bearers were Bill Thompson, Tracy Thompson, Bob Whipple, Rob Whipple, Rick Whipple, Wade Johnson, Bradley Johnson, Eric Downing and Jason Moore.

Helen Johnson was born on May 18, 1914 in Belmond, the daughter of William and Mary (Hunst) Johnson. She attended the Belmond Schools. Helen married Richard A. Thompson on May 18, 1935 at Mason City, and assumed the responsibility of raising Richard's six children. She later married James I. Nelson on July 31, 1952 at Silver Bow County, Montana. For most of her life, Helen was employed as a cook and dietician. She worked for various restaurants and at the Belmond Community Hospital. Helen retired from the hospital in 1976 after 23 years. Her culinary skills and baking abilities were not only masterful in her professional life, but they were also shared with her family and friends, who remember her meals for various gatherings, delicious baked rolls, buns, cakes, and other treats. Helen was people orientated and looked forward to family gatherings and get-togethers with friends and neighbors. She loved children and the opportunity to play games and read to them. She rarely missed the opportunity to remember her family and grandchildren with cards, gifts, and calls on special occasions. In her later years it wasn't uncommon to find Helen in the middle of a battle of spoons or other games with her grandchildren. She was active at the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Esther Circle. She was a long time member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries, the Belmond Hospital Auxiliary, RSVP, Senior Citizens, and the Grandmother's Club. She became a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center in October 2002. Prior to that she resided at the Community Apartments for 26 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; sons, William, Don and Roger; daughter, Anita Whipple; brothers, Maurice, Earl and William; sister, Lillian; a granddaughter; a grandson; son-in-law, Gerald Whipple; and daughter-in-law, Dorothy Thompson. Survivors include sons, Duan (Linda) Thompson of Belmond and Jack (Marlys) Thompson of Mesa, Arizona; brother, Henry (Betty) Johnson of Sedona, Arizona; daughters-in-law, Ruth Thompson of West Palm Beach and Betty Thompson of Belmond; sister-in-law, Doris Nelson of Earlham. Also she is survived by her grandchildren, Robert (Lois) Whipple of Belmond, Dennis (Linda) Whipple of West Jordan, Utah, Kathy (Joe) Moore of Plymouth, William (Cheryl) Thompson of Mason City, Sandi (Ron) Schlichting of Clear Lake, Debra (Chris) Jelik of Mason City, Kyle (Wendy) Thompson of Rockford, Mindy (James) Mahoney of Mason City, Donna Thompson of Cedar Rapids, Deborah Manita of Wheaton, Illinois, Roy (Rosemary) Thompson of Concord, North Carolina, Sondra Thompson of Hollywood, Florida, Bonnie (Eugene) Epstein of Staten Island, Diane (Michael) Lund of West Des Moines, Richard (Marge) Thompson of Penn Valley, California, Gerald Thompson of Beaumont, Texas, Linette (Mick) Myland of Spring Grove, Illinois and Tracy (Tena) Thompson of Osage; 38 great-grandchildren; and 36 great-great-grandchildren.