Marilyn A. Helmers, 90, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church in Le Mars. Father Timothy Pick will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at a later date at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Friday.

Marilyn Agnes (Miller) Helmers was born on February 12, 1934, in Spencer, Iowa. The youngest daughter of Ralph Edgar and Isabel Delores (Rubis) Miller, she joined her brother Robert and sister Jeanne. She graduated from Spencer High School in 1952, and went to work as a telephone operator.

On February 2, 1954, Marilyn and Richard Dean Helmers were united in marriage in Spencer. While living in Spencer, their two children, Donald and Jeanne were born. They moved to Le Mars in 1959, when Richard joined the Iowa Highway Patrol. Marilyn started work at the Le Mars Flower House as a floral designer, after which she worked as a proofreader at the Le Mars Daily Sentinel and a teacher's aide at the junior high school before becoming a member of one of the first classes in the state of Iowa for certified E.M.T.s. She worked on the Le Mars Ambulance until her retirement. But her true calling was that of being a wife and a mother. She loved her husband, children, and all their friends unconditionally.

Marilyn had many interests and excelled at them all. She loved to cook and bake and was known for being a wonderful hostess. She loved to knit and paint, and if you have a sequined felt Christmas ornament bought at the Floyd Valley hospital bazaar,she probably had a hand in crafting it. She created beautiful beaded jewelry and she was a voracious reader, who could never have enough books. Her affinity for crossword puzzles astounded anyone who ever did one with her. Her love of Christmas resulted in a house decorated as a showcase, trays of cookies and candies, and more beautifully decorated gifts than you can imagine.

She was a member of All Saints Catholic parish in Le Mars where she was active in the Altar Society and the Saint James choir. And then there was the Le Mars Community Theater, where she served as president of the board of directors and acted or was involved in over 40 productions through the years.

She is survived by her children, Don Helmers and Jeanne Graves and her husband Dennis; her grandchildren, Greg (DeeDee) Helmers, Kristen (Chris) McCaslin, Heidi Helmers (fiancé, Ty Roper), Evan Graves, and Leah (Angelo) Cuomo; and her great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Austin, Luke Helmers, Madison McCaslin, and James Cuomo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Isabel Miller; her siblings, Robert Miller and Jeanne Miller; her husband Richard; and her daughter-in-law, Dusty Helmers.

We would like to thank the entire staff and the residents at Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. She was so happy and content there under your love and care. May you be blessed knowing you served her well. As someone near to us said upon her passing; "She was a fun gal!"