Helen M. Johnston

Helen M. Johnston
March 06, 1928 - September 16, 2010
South English, Iowa
Visitation: 4 PM to 8 PM September 20, 2010 at Powell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, North English, IA
Funeral Service: 10:30 AM September 21, 2010 at Powell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, North English, IA
Interment: September 21, 2010 at White Pigeon Cemetery, rural North English, IA
Helen Maxine Johnston was born on March 6, 1928, near Fremont, IA, the daughter of William Edgar and Zella Isherwood Handy. She graduated from Fremont High School in 1946. Helen married Allen LeRoy Johnston on April 21, 1947, at the Catholic Church in What Cheer, IA. After farming for years south of Parnell, IA, they moved to South English, IA. In 1974, Helen started working at Amana Refrigeration, retiring in 1990. They enjoyed taking their camper to San Juan, TX before Allen's death in October 1992. In 1996, she and Russell Daines became committed companions. They enjoyed 12 years together until his death in November 2007.They lived in San Juan and South English. They loved to play cards, camp, play bingo, garden and Helen loved to sew. In 2009, Kenneth Seaba became her committed companion. She often said she wished she could spend a good ten years with him. They especially enjoyed playing cards and fishing together. Helen became a resident of the English Valley Care Center in North English in June 2010. She died on September 16, 2010, at the Care Center, at the age of 82 years, 6 months and 10 days. She is survived by a son Max (Sandy) Johnston of Marengo, IA: daughters Betty (Stan) Seaba of Wellman, IA and Dixie ( Earl) Schlabach of Wichita, KS; 8 grandchildren: Angie Gingrich, Alicia Miller, J.R. Seaba, Mary Lynn Griggs, Gary Johnston, Sarah Johnston, Laura Aronis & Kyle Schlabach; and 7 great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter Mary Lea, and her husband Allen, brothers Harold, Leslie and Kenneth Handy, sisters Lucille Ward and Mary Watson, and former companion Russell Daines A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English with Chaplain Mary Beth Siemann officiating. Visitation will be from 4 PM to 8 PM at the funeral home on Monday, September 20, 2010. Burial will be in the White Pigeon Cemetery near North English. A memorial fund has been established for the North English Community Center or Iowa Hospice. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.