Brother Don was killed on July 18, 1961. A crane boom hit a highline wire and
death was instant. He left seven children, five of which were still at home. Such a
tragedy. Don was only 52 years old. He was a great companion and we still miss him.
Gail and Bernice's granddaughter, Katherine Jean Frecchie, died Feb. 18, 1962 of complications after surgery. She was only 15-months old. This was Linda's first born. She was an exceptionally beautiful little girl. Such a tragedy.
Lorraine and Bob's son, Kirk Edward Sites, born January 29, 1963, died on April 7, 1963 of crib death syndrome. He was my first grandson. He was too young to know as a companion but he had a very special spirit and the loss and pain are still
there.
On October 2, 1964, Gail Manock, Barbara Lou's husband, was killed instantly
when a crane boom hit a high power electrical line. Gail was twenty-seven
years old, leaving his widow and two young sons. He was a fine young man.
Joe's wife, Myrtle Bolan, died of cancer on March 15, 1965 at the age of fifty-nine, They had been married thirty-five years. Myrtle had a gentle sweet spirit, and was loved by all.
Verle's wife, Willena Baker, died of cancer on November 8, 1965. They had been married twenty years, with one son, Duane. She was just forty-four-years-old. Hazel and "Willie", as we all called her, were special friends. She was a lovely person, and her death, so close behind Myrtle's had been a real traumatic occurrence for our family.
Mother, Ida Lodema Kaler Helle, age 93, died December 17, 1971. Even at this age we were not ready to give her up. But, she had been sick for so long and in a wheel chair for the last five years. She had lived an interesting, good life. She was the last one in her generation in the Helle family. She was a great Mother and we still miss her.
Royle's wife, Alta Fouts, died after a long illness with cancer in September, 1974. They had been married forty-five years. Alta had lived her whole life on the same farm, where she and Royle had raised their family.
Brother Royle died of a stroke on September 26, 1979. He had failing health and had been quite sick the last two weeks. Royle was truly a great personality. We really feel his loss.
At the time of this writing, December, 1979, we are closing the decade of the
70's. The writer has become sixty six years old. I have been writing this history about two years, and hope to have it finished by1981.

LOVED ONES LOST IN THE

DECADE OF THE EIGHTIES


This book was written before 1982, intended to be printed then. But it was stuck on the back burner until the latter part of 1989 and into 1990 when I have once again tried to get it all together. Many tragedies hit our family in the 80's and to the date of this final typing which is nearly 1991. I am updating this book in this section:

The decade of the eighties was a disaster for the Helle family. Seven members of our family passed away during this decade.

August  31,  1980: Brother Verle died suddenly following ten years of ill health. We were not prepared to lose him as he seemed good when we last saw him, four days prior. Losing a brother is a disaster.
February 17, 1981. We lost Lloyd's wife Opal. Gail wrote a tribute to Opal which was read at her funeral. Opal was a dear sweet lady and we will not forget her.
June  10,  1982. We lost Gail with a heart attack. He was sick just four days. Having such a wonderful brother was a great blessing for this family. His memory will live forever in our hearts.
February  17,  1984. We lost Brother Lloyd three years to the day after Opal died. We miss Lloyd so much and will forever cherish the memories he left us. We had always kept in touch a few times each year and they would spend time in our home. We also used to travel with Lloyd and Opal. Sweet memories... .The oldest is always so special to those who follow.
December   26,  1986. We lost Hazel's brother, Elmer Hendrick, at the age of 69. Elmer was known by all of our family and was almost like one of us. He and his wife, Thelma, had lived at Wyoming all of their married life. She is still there today. They have a son, Ronnie and a daughter Patricia, and 6 grandchildren. Elmer served in World War II in Europe. He was seriously injured about one month after "D" day and the Normandy landings.
June 2, 1988. We lost our dear sister Charlotte. Some of the most precious people on earth are the most difficult to lose. It is impossible to measure pain, but I can say when we lost Charlotte it was a disaster for our family. I could say more but her daughter Sharon Osborn Bearce gave me her writings on her mother.  I will say this. Charlotte and I never did quarrel. I pestered her in fun. We had great times. Charlotte was a loveable sister. She still lives in our hearts.
July 11, 1989. Gene's wife, Maxine died at the age of 61 with cancer. She had been sick for about three years. Maxine was a good mother, wife and a wonderful person. We always enjoyed time in her home. Very few weeks went by when we didn't visit one home or the other. We felt so bad when they moved to Hawaii.
July 15th,  1989. Hazel was seriously ill with cancer. It took her life just four days after the loss of Maxine. Hazel and I had spent all of our free time together. I have said many times that when a married couple is also friends, you have to love to be together. One of my greatest joys on earth was being married to my best friend. We raised our family together, but she did most of the work. She was that kind of a person, so competent. We traveled extensively with our children, always by automobile. After the children were grown we developed a hobby of taking week end trips together. Those were glorious happy times. Hazel was always a sweet and lovely person. I believe real true love is born in marriage.
After Hazel became ill with cancer, we knew our traveling days were over. It was the end of an era. I have learned a lot about people who are terminally ill. I have learned about a God who surprises us with blessings in the midst of so much pain. One of our blessings with Hazel was that in the nearly three years of cancer she was nearly always free of severe pain. She kept that great sparkle in her eyes and she also kept that one of a kind beautiful smile. She was in and out of the hospitals many times, spending a total of about four months in four hospitals. The nurses thought she was one of the nicest patients they had on the third floor at the Finely Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. We thought the nurses were the nicest, sweetest people anywhere.
May  31,  1990, as this book was being put in final print, we received word that yet another family member had gone beyond. Kenneth Helle, son of brother Don and his widow Jean, was killed in a terrible accident. His funeral was on June 4th, the anniversary of the funeral of sister Charlotte in 1988 and the day that my great grandson Zachary Kirk was born to my granddaughter Celeste.

A death and a birth. This family goes on.


It is now near the end of 1990. I find that I must add to this chapter once again. It is so difficult to keep adding names of loved ones here.

August  15,  1990. We lost our dear brother Delbert. He was in the hospital with a severe heart attack and didn't make it home. How does one find the words to say what a brother means to you. Those who may not be as fortunate to have brothers, could probably not really understand.
Brother Delbert, quiet but deep; loving and gentle; always thinking; always creative; truly one of a kind. He was a dear, special friend. We all miss him. We will never forget him.
August  18,  1990. On the day of our brothers funeral, I received a call from
Charlotte and Harrison's daughter Sharon. Daryl Anderson was missing and presumed drowned. Daryl was buried on August 22. Daryl was the oldest son of Carol and Ray Anderson. He was just 33 years-old. He was a kind, loving man, always ready to lend a helping hand. He had been the first one to arrive at the hospital when Sharon's grandson was taken in by helicopter to Rockford after he was hit by a truck, just a month before, on July 17th.
Daryl's death was the second time in less than fourteen months that we had lost two family members within four days of one another. It is such a terrible price to pay for a large family.

Memories of those who have gone before us shall be cherished forever. The ones who are here to carry on will always feel blessed in having known and loved them.
The following poem was sent to us by Alta Fouts Helle after the tragic loss of our son, Lyle, It has been hanging in a frame on our wall ever since. It has meant so much to me that I want to share it in the memory of all the loved ones who have gone beyond.

Near a shady wall, A rose once grew
Budded and blossomed in God's free light
Watered and fed by morning dew,
Shedding its sweetness day & night.

As it grew and blossomed fair & tall, Slowly rising to loftier height,
It came to a crevice in the wall

Onward it crept with added strength
With never a thought of fear or pride
It followed a light
Through the crevice - length
& unfolded itself on the other side.

The light, the dew, The broadening view, Were found the same as they were before
And it lost itself in beauties new, Breathing its fragrance more and more.

Shall claim of death cause us to grieve, And make our courage faint or fall?
Nay, let us faith and hope receive -The rose still grows beyond the wall.

Scattering fragrance far and wide,
Just as it did in days of yore,
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forevermore.
Through which there shown a beam of light

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