Fern May Helt
Born: May 6th, 1918
Died: January 7th, 2014
Obituary
Fern May Oetken Helt, 95, of Mount Pleasant and formerly New London, died Tuesday January 7th, 2014 at The New London Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born May 6, 1918 on the Oetken family farm in Des Moines County, the daughter of Henry F. and Laura Reif Oetken. On January 28, 1953 she married George Helt in Burlington. He preceded her in death of February 12th, 2010. She attended Hunter Country School on Iris Ridge Road north of Burlington through the 8th grade. Mrs. Helt was a member of the New London United Methodist Church and a former member of Oak Street Baptist Church in Burlington, and Beulah Methodist Church Rural Mount Pleasant. She was a member of the neighborhood Star Club and ARC of Henry County. Mrs. Helt worked at the glove factory in New London, the Burlington Instrument Company, and helped with her husband's photo business, and on their farm NW of New London. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, needle work, painting pictures, tinting photos for her husband's photo business, working on their farm, and raising their family. Survivors include one daughter Marjorie Helt of Mount Pleasant; one son Kenneth (Barbara) of Mount Pleasant, and one granddaughter Laura Helt Haynes of Omaha Nebraska; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister; Geneva Ludemann, two brothers; Everett and Lawrence Oetken, one niece; Jean Weise, and one great niece; Shivonnne Oetken. Visitation will be from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday at Elliott Chapel New London, with the family receiving friends from 10:00-11:00. The funeral for Mrs. Helt will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Chapel, with Rev. John Helt officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington, with the procession to the cemetery leaving at 1:30 p.m. The memorials have been established for the New London United Methodist Church and Hope Haven in Burlington.