Katherine M. (Henken) Helland

Katherine Margaret (Henken) Helland, 90, formerly of Crystal Lake, passed away Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City, Iowa.  

Memorial Services for Katherine Helland will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2015, at the United Methodist Church, 215 Summit Avenue in Crystal Lake with Pastor Chuck Layton officiating.  Burial will follow at Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake. 

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Katherine was born on a farm outside of Bancroft, Iowa on July 3, 1924 to Fred and Della (Spear) Henken.  She had two sisters, Ruth and Gladys; and two brothers, Gerd and Fred Jr.  The family eventually moved to a farm outside of Titonka, Iowa and continued farming.  Even though times were tough growing up during the depression, the five children had it pretty good since they had each other and a lot of animals and activity on the farm.  As it used to be during that generation, relatives and neighbors would visit frequently.

Katherine was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church.  In May 1942, she graduated from Titonka High School.  She was a waitress at the Bungalow Cafe in Forest City, Iowa and later worked at the Winnebago County Courthouse.

In October, 1955, she married LuVerne Helland at the Little Brown Church in the Vale and they made their home on a farm outside of Crystal Lake, Iowa.  She became a homemaker and mother to three daughters; Sharon, Marna, and Leslie.  Her farm operation duties included helping to milk 23 milk cows; driving the tractor during harvesting and planting times; and keeping the farm place neat by painting buildings, mowing, and gardening.

In the early seventies, she and LuVerne started to work for Winnebago Industries delivering motor homes all over the United States, including Alaska.  Because of the dry climate, they particularly liked to deliver motor homes to the southwest and eventually made the decision to retire and move to Sun Lakes, Arizona in 1983.  They made many friends there as they enjoyed golfing, playing cards, and going to the pool and spa.

In 2006, they chose to move back to Iowa to be closer to daughter, Sharon in Sioux City and to be able to see the Crystal Lake relatives and visit the farm.  In 2009, LuVerne passed away and she moved to independent living at Sunrise Retirement Community.  She once again made new friends that helped her enjoy life for the remainder of her years.

She enjoyed her grandchildren; Lauren, Michael, and Mark, each in their own special way.  In Arizona, the kids enjoyed swimming in the "Grandma's pool"; riding the golf cart to see the ducks; and making craft projects with grandma.  She always had something freshly baked when they arrived and they always left with wonderful memories.

Realizing the importance of keeping traditions alive, she saw to it that family gatherings were carried on.  She treasured the antiques passed down to her and in later years, enjoyed collecting paperweights, teapots, birds, and ladybugs.  She enjoyed even more to give away the items that she collected to special friends in her life at Sunrise Retirement Community.  Writing in her diary and chronicling daily events was a special passion she enjoyed for 50 years.  She will be remembered for qualities of integrity and generosity learned through a rich, faith-filled life.  Her kids will remember that their mother didn't tell them how to live; she lived and let them watch her do it.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa and the Crystal Lake United Methodist Church.

Survivors include daughters Sharon (Keith) Blom of South Sioux City, NE; Marna Helland of Dallas, TX; and Leslie (Jim) Marshall of Sioux City, IA; three grandchildren, Michael (Jessica) Davis, Mark Davis, and Lauren Marshall; two great-grandchildren, Noah and Rowan Davis, sister-in-law Janice Henken of Crystal Lake, IA; along with nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, brothers, and son in infancy.

Memorial donations may be made to Sunrise Retirement c/o Leslie Marshall 1643 170th Street, Sioux City, IA  51106.