Frances Helt

Former Hastings resident, Frances Jean (Morrow) Helt, 78, succumbed to a lengthy illness on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 in Weatherford, Texas.

Graveside services and burial will be Saturday, March 8, 2008; 10:30 A.M. at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. Judith Allen officiating. Visitation will be Friday, March 7, 2008; 1:00 P.M - 9:00 P.M. & Saturday, March 8, 2008; 8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. at the funeral home.

Frances was born in Blair, Nebraska to Dr. Carl W. and Faye Morrow on October 11, 1929. Frances graduated from Hastings High School in 1947 and then attended Hastings Business Academy. She married Jay Helt on June 12, 1955 in Hastings, Nebraska at the First Christian Church. Following her marriage, Frances continued her professional life while her husband completed his education at the University of Alabama and University of Colorado. While in Alabama, she was the personal assistant to the Dean of the University of Alabama Broadcasting School. After being transferred to Colorado, she became the Department of Physics administrator at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Later, Air Force assignments of her husband took the family to Japan, Germany and Iran. As her children grew, Fran became an avid Volunteer at various school libraries and other teaching positions in foreign and US schools where her children were attending. She was instrumental in establishing a greatly expanded Library system at the American Military School in Tehran, Iran when the school was expanded to its new campus north of the city. Frances was a serious "Stay At Home Mom" and dedicated her life to her children's care and development and that of an ever present wife to her husband, where ever that may have been. After 39 moves she became an efficient and expert packer and organizer. Her hobbies were mainly dedicated to proliferation and hybridizing of African Violets and Japanese flower arranging (Ikebana). She also enjoyed the family's Old English Sheepdogs. At the time of her death, the family is in possession of OES number 5, Winston, and Number 6, Dudley. These dogs were frequent visitors to her nursing facility for over four years, which immensely brightened her day and that of other residents. It soon became apparent that her dogs enjoyed the visits as much as she did.

Frances was preceded in Death by her father in 1950, her mother in 1977 and brother, Robert, in 1957.

Frances is survived by her husband of 52 years; son, Edwin and daughter-in-law Deborah and their two children, Trenton age 11 and Meghan, age 8; daughter Holly Strom and son-in-law Christopher Strom; and brother, William D. (Bill) Morrow and his wife Delores of Doniphan, Nebraska.