IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Helen Rhodes

A memorial service for Helen Lucille Rhodes, 102, who passed away surrounded by loved ones Oct. 31, 2024, at Homestead Assisted Living, Topeka, will be 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Topeka.

Meredith Kemp-Pappan will officiate. Private inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her husband.

Helen was born on April 2, 1922, in Tampa to Adam and Lena (Reuscher) Kleiber.

She is survived by her three daughters, Susan Boeh (and husband Alan), Jenny Lee (and husband Greg), and Nancy Tillman (and husband Dean Spencer); six grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Frank; her parents; two brothers; and a sister.

Helen grew up on a farm where her dad raised wheat. She spent her days helping her mom with all the farm chores of the day — cooking, cleaning, tending the garden, and canning.

She walked to a one-room schoolhouse where she stayed to eat her packed lunch instead of going home because she felt like her baseball skills were needed in after-lunch games.

She later attended Tampa High School, where she played the snare drum and best of all met a handsome young man just a year older — the love of her life, and future spouse, Frank.

After graduating from Tampa High School, Helen went to nurse’s training at Wichita School of Nursing.

After graduating, she ventured to Denver to work in a hospital where every day she was approached by Army recruiters enticing her to join.

It was a difficult decision because she already had a brother serving in World War II and had lost a sister at a young age.

She was convinced and joined the Army Nurse Corp. She did her basic training at Fort Carson and then was stationed at Fort Riley until the war ended.

She served for 14 months and was in what would have been the next group to be deployed overseas when the war ended.

Despite being separated by her time in the nurse corps and Frank’s time serving as a paratrooper in Europe, they continued writing, and their love blossomed in spite of the war. They were married Sept. 6, 1946.

Helen and Frank became charter members of Trinity Presbyterian Church and had wonderful memories of their early years with friends and the church community.

Family was Helen’s pride and joy. Her entire life was full of gratitude to God for family and friends. She delighted in any time she could spend with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Her loving smile and “Q-Tip” hair always brought a smile to their faces.

Memorials in Helen’s honor and memory may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church of Topeka and Topeka Rescue Mission.