Helen Francis Allen, 72, of Topeka, Kansas, formerly of Atchison, Kansas passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Atchison United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Stone officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the church. The Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final care. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.arensbergpruett.com

Helen was born on February 15, 1945 in Plattsburg, Missouri the daughter of Howard and Sally (Kelley) May. She attended Plattsburg Elementary and graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1963.

She and Theodore “Ted” Allen were united in marriage on December 25, 1984 in Atchison, Kansas. Ted preceded her in death on May 29, 2004.

She was formerly employed at Rockwell International, Mount St. Scholastica College cafeteria, and co-owned and operated Ted & Helen’s Smokin’ Good B-B-Q in Atchison, Horton and Topeka. She was most recently employed at the Golden Eagle Casino in the dining room, where she was a supervisor of hosting.

She is survived by a son, Donnie Ray Johnson, Sr., Leavenworth, KS, six daughters, Helen (Willie, Jr.) Braden, Topeka, KS, Gwen (Kevin Honer) Harris, Topeka, KS, Donita Strange, Lawrence, KS, Toni (Edwin) Cluke, Atchison, KS, Teresa Russel, Atchison, KS, Tammy Allen, Las Vegas, NV, an uncle, Clifford Kelley, Denver, CO, twenty-four grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Sally May, a daughter, Lorita Oliver, her husband Theodore Allen, three brothers, Howard E. May, Jr., Leroy May, Cecil Kelley, a sister, Mildred Merritt, and a son, Theodore “Bootsie” Allen, Jr.