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HELEN OPAL NEWTON,
86 years, of Tekamah, Nebraska, formerly of Decatur,
Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the
Golden Living Center in Tekamah surrounded by her
family.
Helen was born September 10, 1925, in
rural Decatur, Nebraska, the daughter of Walter Calvin
and Grace Alta (Young) Phelps. She graduated from
Decatur High School and Dana College.
On July 13, 1947, Helen and Alvin
Leroy Newton were united in marriage in Decatur.
Helen passed down a strong work ethic
to her children and grandchildren, always leading by
example. Helen was a school teacher in the Golden
Springs and Fairview Country Schools. She later worked
at Campbell Soup in Fremont, Burgess Hospital in Onawa,
and Trues Hardware Store in Decatur. Helen finished her
working career as the postmaster in Decatur, retiring in
1987.
Although Helen retired, she never
stopped being busy. Helen was an active member of the
community. She maintained a very large flower and
vegetable garden at her home in Decatur. Her
grandchildren never went home without a large bouquet of
flowers for their mothers and purple feet from picking
elderberries. Helen was an avid Nebraska football fan
and wouldn’t tolerate conversation during any of the
games.
She was preceded in death by her
parents, husband, Alvin LeRoy; sons, Boyd and Carl
Michael Newton;brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul (Helen)
Phelps, Doyle (Maxine) Phelps, Bill Phelps;
brother-in-law, Jim Smith; nephew, Ted Smith.
Survivors include her six children,
Cathy Sabata of Lyons, NE, Don and his wife, Ruth of
Walthill, NE, Susie Boris of Omaha, NE, Phyllis Mitchell
and Jaccie Uehling both of Tekamah, Craig Newton of St.
Joseph, MO; thirteen grandchildren; ten great
grandchildren; sister, Phyllis Smith of Decatur;
sister-in-law, Melva (Mrs. Bill) Phelps of Decatur.
FUNERAL SERVICE:
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist
Church in Decatur, Nebraska
VISITATION: Friday 1
- 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8
p.m. and 7 :00 p.m. PRAYER SERVICE all at Pelan Funeral
Home in Tekamah. Visitation Saturday will be held at the
church one hour prior to the service.
BURIAL: Hillcrest
Cemetery, Decatur.
MEMORIALS: Decatur
United Methodist Church, Burt County Relay for Life
Decatur Fire and Rescue and Audubon Society.
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