When Helen was born, she was very jaundiced. Had she been born in a hospital in the year 2006, this condition would have been noted and treated immediately. However, in 1929 with the birth at home, no treatment was done. As she lowly grew, her stomach area was larger than a child for her age, and was very hard. Her tongue often protruded.

Her mother closed her mind to any possibility that there was a disability in her child, saying Helen was so bright. She was a happy child, learned to walk and talk but later than usual, and recognized family members. She liked to play with other children. The writer recalls a family dinner when her cousin Ruth's two little girls were there, she brought out toys for them to play with. When the little ones got tired of those toys, she brought out another, carefully picking up the first ones and returning them to her room.

After her mother's death, her father found himself unable to take her out to the fields with him, and he couldn't stay in the house with her. After prayerful consideration, he made arrangements for her to go to the Iowa State Children's home at Glenwood, Iowa. He named his sister, Laura Baumgarten, as her guardian.

Laura visited her often, finding her clean, healthy and happy. She loved a rocking chair, so Laura found a teenage size rocker for her which she could have in her room. Helen's other love was a pocketbook. Laura made it a point to find a small new one for her each time she visited.

Helen developed a kidney problem and was taken to a hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa where she passed away.

She was one of God's sweet children who taught us patience and mercy.

[written July 9, 2006]

Miss Helen Marie Rurode, 36, died late Friday at the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs where she had been a patient for a week.

Helen was born in Page County on Dec 12, 1929, the daughter of Louis and Amelia Salomom Rurode. She was a member of St Paul's Luthern Church at Yorktown.

She is survived by one brother and his wife, Mr and Mrs Lloyd Rurode and a niece, Brenda, of Canistota, SD, and several uncles and aunts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother in 1950 and her father in 1957, and a brother Arvid in 1952.

The funeral service was held this Monday afternoon at the Williams Memorial chapel with the Rev Theodore A. Letzring, pastor of her church, officiating. Richard Ulmer was the organist with Mrs Roger Linke as the soloist. Casket bearers were Paul O. Herzberg, Marrel Sump, Stanley Carlson and Larry Sunderman.

Interment was in the Clarinda Cemetery.