Helen Ruth Frantz

Helen Ruth Frantz passed away February 2, 2016 in Greeley. She was born May 3, 1918 at the family farm outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. Her parents were Reverend Franz Albrecht and Marie Wiebe Albrecht. Helen’s family lived on their farm and she attended the country schools until attending first two years of bible school and then high school in Beatrice, boarding during the week in town. After graduating she began her life long career of teaching, first at the “Cracker Box” school for one year then at the Freeman school for three years followed by the Plymouth and Holmesville schools. The Freeman School still stands and is now part of the Homestead National Monument outside of Beatrice. Helen visited the school in 2011 at the age of 93 and was able to see her grade reports for the classes she taught in 1939.

Helen’s father was the minister of the Beatrice Mennonite Church and the church was central to the life of the family. Helen was baptized by her father June 9th, 1935. Early on, Helen served as a Sunday School teacher and accompanied the choir and congregation from the piano and organ.

Helen met Elmer Frantz in 1945 at a church social and the two were married August 8, 1946. They had two children, Mary and Dan. The family lived in Beatrice until 1963 when they moved to Golden, Colorado where they joined the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren. Helen began taking classes to complete her teaching degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, she continued to get her Master’s in Education and obtained most of the credits toward a doctorate in the field of Children’s Education. She was engaged in these educational goals while teaching at Stober Elementary School in Lakewood, raising the family, keeping the house, sewing dresses and waiting for trumpet lessons to be over. She was selected as teacher of the year in 1975 and was a member of Jefferson County Educator’s Association and the Retired Teachers’ Association.

Helen retired from teaching in 1983 and almost immediately began to serve as the volunteer director of the child care center at the church for two years. She also worked tirelessly in the church’s library. Helen was known as “Mrs. Heifer Project” throughout the region as she and Elmer traveled over a six state area presenting Heifer project International to churches, community organizations and service clubs in their retirement.

Elmer and Helen moved to Greeley in 1998 to live next door to Dan, Cathy and Caitlin. This afforded their granddaughter, Caitlin to readily enjoy time and loving at “Grandma’s” where many Cinnamon Rolls and Sandkuchen were baked. They enjoyed the many visits and phone calls from Mary who lives in Missouri.

Elmer and Helen were active at the First Congregational Church where they particularly enjoyed the organ and choral music.

Helen is survived by daughter Mary Frantz of Columbia, Missouri , son and daughter-in-law Dan and Cathy Frantz of Greeley and granddaughter and her husband Caitlin and Eric Larson. She is preceded in death by husband Elmer, her sisters and parents.

A visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 12, 2016 at Stoddard Funeral Home 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday February 13, 2016 at Stoddard Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at Crown Hill in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Memorial contributions in Helen’s memory can be made to the Heifer Project, International in care of the Stoddard Funeral Home.