Helm, Francelest (Hach)

Francelest (Hach) Helm was born Aug. 27, 1917, to Joseph and Frances (Vochaska) Hach at Clutier, Iowa. She attended the Clutier Public School and graduated in 1935. During high school she participated in band, chorus and in sports including track, tennis and basketball.

Following graduation, Francelest attended Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls for one year and received her teaching certification. She then taught at a rural school, York #6, south of Elberon from 1936 to 1938. Francelest was united in marriage to Melvin Helm on Aug. 10, 1938, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They actively farmed the family farm on the northeast edge of Dysart for over 40 years. They were parents of four children: Larry (deceased), Cheryl Selk of Norway, Iowa, Susan (Jay) Herman of Shellsburg, and Charles (Elaine) Helm of Kennesaw, Ga. They had seven grandchildren, Darcie (Selk) Schulte, Joelle Selk, Kendra (Selk) Lamb and Blair Selk, Cory Herman, Charla (Herman) Franck and Andrea Helm. They also had seven great-grandchildren, Hollie, Blane (deceased) and Trey Schulte, Elizabeth and Anna Lamb and Dawson and Ashlyn Franck.

Francelest was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; one son, Larry; her parents, Joseph and Frances Hach; two sisters, Beatrice Novak and Bernice Hennings; and one brother, Bernard Hach.

Francelest had many interests, most of which involved taking care of her family. She could often be found tending her large garden or canning the fruits and vegetables from it. She was a very talented seamstress and could take apart an adult garment, cut the fabric down and sew a new garment for a child from the remaining fabric. She loved to do embroidery and needlepoint and in later years made elaborate Christmas stockings for each of her great-grandchildren. With a simple lead pencil, she could patiently draw a picture of an animal or flowers for a family member. She loved to bowl and watch Lawrence Welk, baseball and basketball with her husband. She was his strongest ally when he managed the Dysart Night Hawks baseball team for many years. Francelest also held various jobs. She was employed at the canning factory in Garrison, the Care Center in Dysart and for 15 years, worked at the Dysart Evergreen Hatchery. She was also the Dysart Census Enumerator in 1960.

Until October 2000, Francelest and Melvin lived and raised their family in Dysart. At that time, due to Melvin's declining health, they moved to the Assisted Living Suites in Keystone, Iowa. He preceded her in death in March 2002. Francelest moved to the Assisted Living Apartments in Shellsburg, Iowa in December 2006 and to the Colonial Manor in Amana in August 2008.

Her death came at Colonial Manor on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at the age of 94 years. She lived her life with great determination to do her best in whatever she did. Her entire family has been blessed to have had the privilege of sharing their lives with her.

In memory of both of their parents, the family is having a granite bench constructed and placed near the Dysart baseball diamond, where both Francelest and Melvin spent many hours. Any memorials may be directed to the family for this project.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the United Methodist Church in Dysart, with burial to follow at the Dysart Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Overton Funeral Home in Dysart.

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