Alvina (Buss) HELPS

HELPS, BUSS, HARBERTS, BROER, VERHELST, PRINGNITZ, JOHNSON, BECKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/14/2008 at 15:40:09

25 July 1907 --- 11 October 2003

Alvina (Buss) Helps was born July 25, 1907, an a farm east of Klemme, the daughter of Elko and Jennie (Harberts) Buss. She attended and graduated from Garner High School. She taught rural school in Avery Township for several years. On April 14, 1933, she was united in marriage to Dwight H. Helps at Klemme. Following their marriage, the couple farmed and raised their family east of Klemme. Following retirement in 1960, they moved into the town of Klemme. Dwight and Alvina enjoyed many winters in southern Texas.

In addition to farming with her husband, Alvina was a life-long homemaker. Favorite pastimes included sewing, quilting and doing beautiful handiwork. She did a variety of tailoring and mending of clothing for her family. Alvina enjoyed music and in earlier years played the piano. She loved children and cherished any activity that included them in her life. Alvina was an excellent cook and baker. She will be remembered by her family for her wonderful homemade pies, cookies and cream-filled cupcakes.

She enjoyed visiting and keeping in contact with her friends and hosting tea. Alvina liked flowers and raising a garden. She was a member of the Klemme United Methodist Church and charter member of the Methodist Women's Society. She was a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center for the past 4 years.

Those left to cherish the memory of Alvina's life include her two daughters, Eunice Broer and her husband, Lowell, New providence; JoAnn VerHelst and her husband, Russell, Klemme; a son, Raymond and his wife Esther, of Klemme; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Winne Buss and Borothy Pringnitz. Preceeding her in death were her parents; husband, Dwight; son, Stanley; daughter-in-law, Sylvia Helps, three brothers, Hank, Henry and Edgar Buss; two sisters, Hazel Johnson and Gail Becker; two infant brothers, Franklin and Francis.