Obituary for Madeline Helems

Madeline June Helems

June 19, 1932 – August 5, 2018

Madeline June Helems, resident of Ponca City, passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2018. She was 86 years old. A funeral ceremony will be held at First Lutheran Church on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Trout Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 until 8:00 p.m. and Madeline’s family will be available to greet friends on Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Following the funeral, Madeline will be cremated and buried next to her husband at Resthaven Memorial Park at a later date.

Madeline was born in Mineola, New York on June 19, 1932 to Dorothy Griffith and Leonard Parkman Boyd. The family moved to Flushing, NY in 1937 where she attended public schools and graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in June of 1950. That summer she went to work for New York Life Insurance Company. During elementary school she made 5 friends and when she went to high school she made 4 more. The group of 9 girls started a group called the Cloveretts. There are 4 girls left that all still keep in contact and try to visit each other.

Madeline was baptized on September 25th in Minneola, New York. She was confirmed in the Methodist Church in April of 1944 and later, she was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church on February 14, 1960.

She met Ronald (Jake) Helems in February of 1955 and they were married on October 22, 1955 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Flushing, NY. They moved to Ponca City, Jake’s hometown, in 1956. They had a son named Kevin, born in April of 1957 and a daughter, Sheila, who was born in November of 1960. After Kevin and Sheila were in grade school, Madeline went to work for Moore Business Forms from 1970 to 1978. She then cleaned houses for 5 years. Madeline’s parents moved to Ponca City so that she was able to care for them.

Madeline enjoyed bowling, dancing, and camping. She was also a member of the Red Hats, Bereavement groups, Lutheran Women’s Guild, and helped with many other groups including the Valentine luncheon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Dorothy, husband, Ronald Helems, and one brother, Herbert Boyd.

Survivors include her son, Kevin Helems of Ponca City, daughter, Sheila Helems of Ponca City, nephew, Michael Boyd of New Jersey, niece, Karen Vivanca of New Jersey, sister-in-law, Martha Boyd of New Jersey, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory in Ponca City.

Source: Trout Funeral Home