Obituary for Helen Arlene Vance (Parkinson)
Helen Arlene (Parkinson) Vance, 96, of Le Mars, peacefully passed away on Friday, July 15, 2022, at Good Samaritan Center (Brentwood) in Le Mars surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Le Mars Bible Church in Le Mars. Pastor Fred Gums will officiate. Visitation with the family present will begin at 10 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Helen donated her body to the University of South Dakota Medical School.
Helen A. Vance was born Aug. 8, 1925, in Sioux City, into the musical Parkinson family, the daughter of Carol Bliss (CB) and Myrtle (Thompson) Parkinson. She lived in Sioux City for a few years, then moved to Memphis, Tennesee and later Van Horne, Iowa, where she attended kindergarten. In 1931, her family then moved to Le Mars. During her high school years, she toured with the Parkinson Family music group playing the violin and graduated from Le Mars High School in 1943. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) as well as Westmar College.
She met the love of her life, Ken, at Westmar and pursued a letter writing relationship with him while he was stationed in India during World War II. Upon his return to Le Mars, Ken and Helen were married on Feb. 23, 1946.
After marrying, they lived in Hastings and then Norfolk, Nebraska, before moving to Sioux Center, Iowa, where they owned and operated V&P Variety. In 1953, they moved to Le Mars when they bought Lakeside Motel. In 1968, they opened and operated Vance’s Department Store in downtown Le Mars until the early 1990’s.
Along with raising four boys, Helen was very active in the Plymouth County Republican Women from the 1960’s to 1990’s, as well as the district and state Republican Women. She was a member of the Le Mars Business and Professional Women’s Club from 1967 to mid-1980’s, and Westmar Women from the 1980’s to 1990’s. Helen was a member of the Christian Women’s Club and hosted many gatherings in her home. She was also active with her Class of 1943, spearheading many class reunions, most notably the 1940s Decades Reunion in 1978. The idea for the Foster Park Carousel was a result of that reunion. She also hosted spring and fall coffees for the 1930’s to 1950’s classes.
Above all things, Helen loved the Lord and sharing her faith with others. She spent much of her life being hospitable to visitors and family. She loved to host out of town visitors, whether for a meal or overnight. She enjoyed entertaining and hosting many family gatherings at the family home.
Helen was always active in her church, growing up at Hildreth Memorial Church, then raising her family at Calvary E.U.B. and in the late 70s at Le Mars Bible Church. She was a member of Eastern Star, and many church women’s circles and involved with the Le Mars Bilbe Church college ministry. She hosted Bible studies and helped start the Hilltoppers group at Le Mars Bible Church.
Helen had a gift for writing and a heart for ministering to other people. She spent many years waking up in the early morning hours to pray and meditate as she wrote poems and prayers to pass on to those who needed an encouraging word.
She loved to garden and tend to her flowers, decorate, entertain, travel, cook and bake, and was known for her white Christmas pie and cinnamon rolls. She loved her family and doted on her grandchildren.
She is lovingly remembered by her family - four sons: Gary (Kathy), of Coralville, Iowa; Tom (Carolyn), of Le Mars; Dick (Leslie), of Torrington, WY; and Kirk (Sandy), of Lincoln, NE.; 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; sister Jane and her husband Rich Schultz, of Le Mars.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ken, brother CJ Parkinson; and Luke, her great-grandchild.
Memorials in Helen’s name may be directed to Camp Assurance, 86858 Highway 57, Belden, NE 68717
Helen A. Vance was born Aug. 8, 1925, in Sioux City, into the musical Parkinson family, the daughter of Carol Bliss (CB) and Myrtle (Thompson) Parkinson. She lived in Sioux City for a few years, then moved to Memphis, Tennesee and later Van Horne, Iowa, where she attended kindergarten. In 1931, her family then moved to Le Mars. During her high school years, she toured with the Parkinson Family music group playing the violin and graduated from Le Mars High School in 1943. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) as well as Westmar College.
She met the love of her life, Ken, at Westmar and pursued a letter writing relationship with him while he was stationed in India during World War II. Upon his return to Le Mars, Ken and Helen were married on Feb. 23, 1946.
After marrying, they lived in Hastings and then Norfolk, Nebraska, before moving to Sioux Center, Iowa, where they owned and operated V&P Variety. In 1953, they moved to Le Mars when they bought Lakeside Motel. In 1968, they opened and operated Vance’s Department Store in downtown Le Mars until the early 1990’s.
Along with raising four boys, Helen was very active in the Plymouth County Republican Women from the 1960’s to 1990’s, as well as the district and state Republican Women. She was a member of the Le Mars Business and Professional Women’s Club from 1967 to mid-1980’s, and Westmar Women from the 1980’s to 1990’s. Helen was a member of the Christian Women’s Club and hosted many gatherings in her home. She was also active with her Class of 1943, spearheading many class reunions, most notably the 1940s Decades Reunion in 1978. The idea for the Foster Park Carousel was a result of that reunion. She also hosted spring and fall coffees for the 1930’s to 1950’s classes.
Above all things, Helen loved the Lord and sharing her faith with others. She spent much of her life being hospitable to visitors and family. She loved to host out of town visitors, whether for a meal or overnight. She enjoyed entertaining and hosting many family gatherings at the family home.
Helen was always active in her church, growing up at Hildreth Memorial Church, then raising her family at Calvary E.U.B. and in the late 70s at Le Mars Bible Church. She was a member of Eastern Star, and many church women’s circles and involved with the Le Mars Bilbe Church college ministry. She hosted Bible studies and helped start the Hilltoppers group at Le Mars Bible Church.
Helen had a gift for writing and a heart for ministering to other people. She spent many years waking up in the early morning hours to pray and meditate as she wrote poems and prayers to pass on to those who needed an encouraging word.
She loved to garden and tend to her flowers, decorate, entertain, travel, cook and bake, and was known for her white Christmas pie and cinnamon rolls. She loved her family and doted on her grandchildren.
She is lovingly remembered by her family - four sons: Gary (Kathy), of Coralville, Iowa; Tom (Carolyn), of Le Mars; Dick (Leslie), of Torrington, WY; and Kirk (Sandy), of Lincoln, NE.; 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; sister Jane and her husband Rich Schultz, of Le Mars.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ken, brother CJ Parkinson; and Luke, her great-grandchild.
Memorials in Helen’s name may be directed to Camp Assurance, 86858 Highway 57, Belden, NE 68717