Lennice Edna (Ellis) Helkenn

Funeral services for Lennice (Ellis) Helkenn, age 94, Clark, the widow of Gene Ellis and Ed Helkenn will be held on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 11AM in the United Methodist Church at Clark with the Reverend Warren Rhodes officiating. Music will be provided by organist Dorothy Fuller playing a trumpet prelude, "Danny Boy" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling". The congregation will sing "In the Garden". Casketbearers will be Bill Luke, Bob Gergen, Dale Helkenn, David Helkenn, Ron Schorg, Dennis Varilek and Chuck Seefeldt. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. She died early Tuesday morning in a Clark care center. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark. There will be NO reviewal at the Church on Friday morning. She was born March 19, 1910, Lennice Edna Wood, the daughter of Roe and Hannah (Menke) Wood, north of Clark, SD. She attended country school also in that area of Clark County. On December 24, 1927 she was united in marriage to Gene Ellis at Watertown. The couple lived and farmed near Clark. Later she worked at the Redfield State Hospital for 10 years and then moved to Gettysburg where she worked in the nursing home. The couple then moved to Watertown. Mr. Ellis died in 1972. On October 5, 1978 she was united in marriage to Ed Helkenn. The couple lived at Clark until his death on April 12, 1990. She has continued living in her home until health forced her to move to the Beverly Health Care Center at Clark in August of 2004. She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Clark and its women's organization, the Clark Senior Citizens and a former member of the Rebekkah Lodge at Clark. Some of her fondest moments were spent playing cards, especially pinochle, playing bingo, gardening and crocheting. Survivors include her grandchildren, Alan Albright and wife Karen of Redfield, Dale Gene Albright and wife Chery of Clark, Dala Kay Albright of Clark and Ann Schaack and husband Wade of Clark; 6 great-grandchildren, Newt, Benjamin 'BJ', Frank, Tate, Tucker and Maddie and Ed's children, Wayne, Gene, Arlyn, Norman, Dale and Rolland Helkenn. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husbands, Gene Ellis and Ed Helkenn, a daughter and son-in-law, Rosella and Leland Albright and Ed's daughter Patsy Wallum. friends can sign the guest book via www.furnessfuneralhome.com