Obituaries : Dorothy Jean Helms

Dorothy Helms, R.N.

Dorothy Helms

VINTON -- Dorothy Jean "Dot" Helms, 79, of Vinton, went to be with the Lord Saturday, October 16, 2010, at her home in Vinton.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at Blessed Hope Church in Vinton with Pastor Jim Blair officiating. Memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 19, also at Blessed Hope Church. Private family committal services will be held in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. It was Dorothy’s wish to be cremated.
Dorothy was born August 24, 1931, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Harry E. and Elizabeth Busker Williams. She was raised in Waterloo and graduated from West High School. Dorothy continued her education at Broadlawns Polk County Hospital and Drake University in Des Moines, graduating in 1952 as a registered nurse. She worked for ten years in Minnesota before returning to Iowa and working 26 years at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, retiring in July of 1996.
On October 10, 1952, Dorothy was united in marriage with Robert Helms in Des Moines. The couple lived in Minnesota for 10 years before moving back to Iowa. He preceded her in death in December of 1996.
She was a member of Blessed Hope Church in Vinton and was active on the Vision, Fellowship and Kitchen Teams. Dorothy was also active in the Eastern Iowa Pond Society and the Virginia Gay Hospital retirees group.
Dorothy is survived by three sons: Rick (Dyann) and Steven (Karen) Helms, both of Vinton; and David (Sally) Helms of Longmont, CO; three daughters: Connie Schlitter and Dawn (David) Stephenson, both of Vinton; and Brenda Coutts of Colorado Springs, CO; one sister: Shirley King of Cedar Falls; 13 grandchildren: Morgan Watts, Dane and Eric Hudson, Erica Koppen, Jared and Tyler Helms, Valerie, Sara and Breanna Stephenson, Ethan and Cody Helms, and Sam and Ty Coutts; one niece, Kathy (Kurt) Rickard; one nephew, Dane King; and her beloved puppy, Louie.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Robert.
A memorial fund has been established.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Dorothy and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.