Helen Ehlers

Helen Irene Ehlers of Waco went to the loving arms of Jesus on Monday, February 25, 2008 at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 15 days. She was born April 12, 1923 at Hampton NE to Fred and Elsie (Sagehorn) Rhode. She was baptized on May 6, 1923 and confirmed into the Christian faith on March 24, 1937 at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Hampton, NE. She attended Hampton Christian Day School and then graduated from Polk High School in Polk, NE. She was united in marriage to Melvin John Peter Ehlers on June 3, 1944. Helen worked alongside her husband on the family farm and devoted her life to raising her family. She was a lifelong member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Thayer, NE, a member of the Ladies Aide and The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Before her stroke in 1989 Helen was active in various community activities. She enjoyed sewing, canning, gardening, baking and cooking. She was an avid fan of Husker football. Following her stroke, she fought a long and courageous battle and never lost interest in her family’s activities and well being.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband Melvin of Waco; daughters: Lynette and her husband Galen Naber of York; Mary Bereuter of Lincoln; and Wanda and her husband Phil Hall of McCool Jct., NE; Grandchildren include: Shelly Schulte, her fiancé Steve and daughter Megan of Lincoln; Holly Epke, husband Jeff and children Sydney and Dylan of Wichita, KS; Nathan Bereuter and Aaron Bereuter both of Lincoln; Lance Hall of Waco; Elizabeth Hall and Samuel Hall of McCool Jct; brothers and sisters: Edgar (Lorette) Rhode of Coppers Cove, TX; Clarence (Isabelle) Rhode of Minneapolis, MN; Margaret Heiden of Lincoln; Dorothy Sackschewsky of Thayer; Deloris (Wayne) Glasser of Madison, NE; Phyllis Pinnow of Terrell, TX; Barbara (Franklin) Pinnow of Arlington, TX. Sisters-in-law: Dorothy Littau of Winner SD; Olga Ehlers of Waco; Francis Starr of Hastings, NE. Nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Greeting her in Heaven are her parents; grandson Jordan John Hall; infant brothers, Donald and Delbert; sisters Elvera Weiler and Luella Rash; brothers and sisters-in-law, Leonard Ehlers, Edna and Alferd Sackschewsky, Gertrude and Bill Sackschewsky, Alvin Ehlers, Fred Littau, Erich Heiden, Elmer Sackschewsky and Richard Pinnow.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Thayer with the Reverend Lee Seetin officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour or the donor’s choice.