Helen Flaherty, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died Monday, January 5, 2026, at the age of 101, at Avera Hospice House in Yankton, South Dakota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, at All Saints Catholic Parish - St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Doug Klein will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.  There will be a Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary at 2:45 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made to Avera Hospice in Yankton, South Dakota.

Helen was born on July 2, 1924, to Charles and Mary (Jasper) Wilberding. She was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa, a faith that remained important to her throughout her life.

She started her schooling in St. Kilian, Minnesota, and graduated from St. Mary's High School in Remsen. She went on to attend and graduate from St. Joseph's College of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa.

She married Leo R. Flaherty on June 14, 1947, at Visitation Catholic Church in Maryhill, Iowa. Together they shared a life devoted to family, faith, and friendship. She enjoyed camping and fishing with her family, retirement with Leo, wintering in Florida, traveling, and playing bridge and Mahjong with friends.

A long-time member of St. Joseph's (All Saints) Catholic Church in Le Mars, Iowa, she was deeply involved in her parish and community. She was a lifelong supporter of Gehlen Catholic School and, for a time, served as president of St. Joseph's and held deanery offices. She was a 50-year member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, a past regent of Plymouth County Right to Life, and a member of the Eight-Till-Late Study Club. She also served on the Board of Regents at Mount Marty College in Yankton.

Professionally, she was employed as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in Le Mars and later served as a 3–11 shift supervisor at Floyd Valley Hospital.

She is survived by her children: Barbara Mechtenberg of Yankton, SD; Michael Flaherty of Missoula, MT; James (Mary) Flaherty of Bothell, WA; and Jean (Michael) Binder of Yankton, SD.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sarah Mechtenberg of Yankton, SD; Karl Mechtenberg of Anchorage, AK; Joe Mechtenberg of Minneapolis, MN; Deirdre Flaherty of Missoula, MT, Bridget Flaherty of Helena, MT; Kevin Flaherty of Oregon; Ellen Flaherty of Los Angeles, CA; Anna Flaherty of Lansing, MI; Zach Binder of Omaha, NE; Greta Prichard of Le Mars, IA; and Frae Binder of Yankton, SD; as well as nine great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law Peg Wilberding of Albia, IA.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Leo Flaherty; her son Kevin Leo Flaherty; her grandson Rory Flaherty; her son-in-law Glen Mechtenberg; her daughter-in-law Frances "Frankie" Flaherty; her brothers Al (Gerry) Wilberding, Larry (Ann) Wilberding, and Ray Wilberding; her siblings-in-law T.W. (Delores) Flaherty, Jr., Margaret Flaherty, and Robert Flaherty. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary (Jasper) Wilberding, and her in-laws T.W. and Cora (Sullivan) Flaherty.