Nielsen, Helen Virginia

Helen Virginia Nielsen, daughter of Peder K. and Olga (Leistad) Pedersen, was born Nov. 26, 1922, near Elk Horn, Iowa. She attended school in Elk Horn and graduated with the class of 1941. In 1945, Helen married Paul Nielsen. Helen and Paul moved to Belle Plaine in 1948. In 1959, they built the Belle Plaine Bowl, where they worked side by side for 13 years. Helen was also bookkeeper and pie baker while raising four children. After Paul's death in 1976, she worked as the bookkeeper for Grieder Standard Oil until her retirement in 1998.

Helen was a member of the United Church of Christ. She enjoyed walking, golfing, bowling, playing cards, needlework and baking. Above all, she loved being a grandmother.

Helen moved to Elk Horn in 2003 and died at Salem Lutheran Home on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at the age of 89 years.

Preceding her in death were her parents, beloved husband, three sisters, a brother and a brother-in-law.

She is survived by her children, Pamela (Gary) Bartachek of Cedar Rapids, Cathy (Wendell) Pace of Carrollton, Texas, Lonnie (Mary Jo) Nielsen of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Loree (John) Weber of Spring Hill, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law.

Funeral service: 10 a.m. July 30 in Elk Horn; brief burial service, 3:30 p.m. in Belle Plaine.

Arrangements by Ohde Funeral Home, Kimballton.

Condolences: www.ohdefuneralhome.com

Published July 29, 2012 in The Gazette