Helen Ales

HELEN ALES

Lost Nation

Helen Lucille (Allen) Ales, 100, of Cedar Rapids, died Jan. 2, 2017. Funeral service:

3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lost Nation. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. before the service at the church. Burial: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Lost Nation.

Helen was born Dec. 21, 1916, on a farm outside Grand Junction, Iowa, to Charles and Bertha Allen. The family moved to Oxford Junction in 1927 to run a hotel and restaurant, and Helen worked in the family business throughout her youth. She also danced, sang and played ukulele in a musical duo that performed at many area events. She graduated from Oxford Junction High School in 1934, and in 1936, she married Ralph Ales and moved to Lost Nation. They had two children, Karmen Kay (1937) and Margie Ann (1941).

After completing cosmetology school, Helen opened her own beauty shop, which she operated for over 25 years. She was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, who sang in the choir, and served as treasurer for the Altar and Rosary Society for many years.

Helen was very close to her daughters and much beloved by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others she cared for over the years. She was a talented seamstress and excellent cook who loved to make things for her family. Helen enjoyed gardening, playing cards, watching sports, and making ceramics and other crafts. She loved flowers, sweets (especially chocolate) and jewelry (especially diamonds). Helen loved to travel and explored all 50 states over the years. She and Ralph frequently took off in their motor home to various fishing destinations and to visit family in California. She loved the mountains and still was making cross-country road trips with family well into her 90s. She was up on current events and loving, supportive and insightful right up until the end. Her loss will leave a great hole in our lives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Ales; her daughter, Karmen Frandsen; and a great-grandchild, Mary Robison.

She is survived by her daughter, Margie (John) Rice; and nine grandchildren, Kim Frandsen, Kay (Jeff) Robison, Marc Frandsen, Steve (Dawn) Rice, Doug (Jill) Rice, Jim Rice, David (Tina) Rice, Jennifer Rice and Katie Rice.

She also is survived by 19 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a special "Thank-You'' to the staff of The Woodlands, Meth-Wick and Hospice House of Mercy for their loving care of Helen.

A memorial fund has been established for Hospice House of Mercy. Flowers can be sent to Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service (520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404) by 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, or to Sacred Heart Catholic Church (903 Main St., Lost Nation, IA 52254) after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Please share a memory of Helen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.