Helen E. Felts, 92, of Hiawatha, died Wednesday morning, June 25, 2014, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

She was born at the farm home southeast of Hiawatha, March 19, 1922, one of seven children born to John and Ethel Martin Gilliland and had lived in Brown and Doniphan counties area most of her life. As a youngster, the family moved quite often as they were tenant farmers. She attended county schools at Hamlin, Falls City, Padonia through the sixth grade prior to the Hiawatha schools.

She married Lloyd Felts, February 26, 1940 at Atchison. In 1944, the couple with their young son Earl, went to live in California where Helen worked in a department store. Their daughter Carol was born while the family was in California. The family later moved to Yakima, WA, where she worked as a clerk in Newberry, before returning to the Doniphan-Brown county area. After moving back to Hiawatha, she worked at the Hiawatha Community Hospital for 20 years, and was also a nurse for Dr. Lowe. Three sons: John, David and Douglas joined the family at that time. Helen then worked 4 years in the payroll department at LFM in Atchison, managed the BCDS Thrift Shop when it first opened, and several years at the Dollar Store.

She loved to bowl and was a member of the 600 WBA Club, was Monday night league president. She was secretary and treasurer 20 years for the Wednesday afternoon Senior League. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary where she served and vice-president and treasurer. Helen was a member of the VFW Auxiliary where she served as chaplain. She enjoyed being a Girl Scout leader, both in Leona and Robinson. She enjoyed outdoor sports, loved to play horseshoes with her Dad, was an excellent swimmer and a registered life guard. Helen loved most any kind of music, studied the piano, organ, and violin. She enjoyed all types of volunteer work. Helen was a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She was baptized in the First Christian Church in Hiawatha where she was a nursery attendant, Sunday School teacher, and a deaconess prior to becoming a member of the First Christian Church in Hiawatha. Her hobbies included: sewing, and piecing of quilts, quilting and crocheting.

Survivors include a daughter Carol Brown of Hiawatha; three sons: John Felts of Aberdeen, WA, David (Pat) Felts of Horton, Douglas Felts of Atchison; a sister Dorothy Justice of Selah, WA; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.

A Celebration of Helen’s life is planned for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, with Pastor Jerry Petering of Highland, officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha

Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Friday. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Saturday.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7^th St., 66434. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com