Helen A. Allen

Helen A. Allen

Nov. 11, 1921 - Feb. 4, 2015

McCOOK, Neb. -- Helen A. Allen went to be with the Lord on Feb. 4, 2015, at Community Hospital. She was 93 years old.

She was born on Nov. 11, 1921, to Blaine G. Dutton and Esther (Nylander) Dutton at McCook, Nebraska. She attended grade school at District 8 and graduated from McCook High School in 1939. She attended McCook Junior College, then graduated from the Lincoln School of Commerce in 1941.

She married Wayne B. Allen on Sept. 7, 1942, in McCook, to this union two sons were born, Ronald and Eric. She went with Wayne to New Mexico while he was in training in the Army Air Corps and taught typing and shorthand in high school. When Wayne was deployed overseas, she returned to McCook to work until he returned from the war, when they started farming.

She was an active farm wife and wonderful mother raising the two boys, her pride and joy. Another of her joys in life was learning to paint in water color, oil and acrylic.

Helen was very active in the McCook community all of her life and that is reflected by the organizations in which she served. She was an active member of the McCook Art Guild and served on the McCook Arts Council. She was an active church member all her life. She served on the Community Hospital Board of Directors 1979-1985. Helen took great pride in the community college and served on the Community College Foundation Board of Directors 1979-2007. Helen was also a member of 37th Star Chapter DAR; and a member of Eureka Chapter No. 86, O.E.S.

Helen received her real estate license in the late 1970s and worked for Lundberg Reality until she retired. Helen was a member of the Nebraska Wheathearts and an appointed member of Judicial Nominating Commission-County Court 14th District, Jan. 1975-Jan. 1979.

She enjoyed following her grandchildren's activities and was very proud of their accomplishments; she even drove to spend weekends with them at college. Helen was very proud of her 11 great-grandchildren, she really enjoyed having their pictures on her wall at the foot of her bed in the nursing home.

Helen had no daughters of her own, but was blessed with two daughters-in-law which she loved as her own. She was an excellent example of what a mother-in-law should be.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Blaine and Esther; her sisters, Betty Niccolson and Patsy McKillip and her brothers-in-law, Bob Niccolson and Leo McKillip.

She is survived by her sons, Ronald Allen and wife, Joanne of McCook and Eric Allen and wife, Barbara of Hutchinson, Kansas; granddaughters, Bonnie and Loren Isom of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Eileen and Rod Golus of Holdrege, Nebraska; grandson, Andy and Sarah Allen of Chattanooga, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Garrett, Sheldon and Reanne Isom of Lincoln; Justin, Michael and Anna Golus of Holdrege; Christopher, Elizabeth, Catherine, Emily and Joseph Allen of Chattanooga; and with many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 4-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at First Congregational Church in McCook with Pastor Steve Bales officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Friends may send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.