Helen Mary Catherine Rall

Sunrise December 8, 1932

Sunset August 20, 2023

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, Helen Rall, at the age of 90, passed away peacefully at home in the presence of family after a long battle with cancer. Born Helen Catherine Soper on December 8, 1932, to parents William and Josephine Soper. Helen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up with her parents in a brownstone that also served as a boarding house that was run by her grandmother, an Irish immigrant.

Her adventurous spirit led her to serve as a TWA stewardess based in Kansas City, Missouri, before the age of 21. She married Freddie Lee Gebhards, of Rockport, Missouri, in Kansas City, Missouri on October 18, 1954, and together they raised 4 children: Michael, Claudette, Cathy, and Carol.

Construction work for Freddie took them to Indonesia and Vietnam, where 2 of the children were born, before they made Independence, Missouri their permanent home. Fred passed away in 1979. After being introduced to Wallace Rall by mutual friends, they began a 37 year love story, and they married on September 24, 1984. They traveled extensively over the years in their “Honey” (beloved RV), fishing and camping with friends. Wally passed in March, 2021.

In addition to traveling, Helen enjoyed finding great deals at garage and estate sales with her daughters. Helen loved swimming, starting in childhood when she spent summers with her Aunt Helen in Newport, Rhode Island and swam laps into her 80’s at the local recreation center. She was passionate about her sewing projects and created beautiful quilts for the entire family. In addition, she created countless baby quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Helen was a voracious reader and always had a good book nearby. Her calm and quiet demeanor and amazing resilience to challenges (both mental and physical) are her legacy.

Helen is survived by her son, Michael Gebhards; and by daughter Claudette, her husband Jerald Mahurin, their children Collin and Aidan; and by daughter Cathy, her husband Drew Lane, their children Corey and Jordan; and by daughter Carol, her husband Andy Lundberg, and by their children Meagan and her husband Tracy Robinson, and by their children Gabriela, Grayson, and Gwenyth; and by Caleb and his wife Emma; and by Jacob and his wife Audrey, and by their son Bear.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to American Cancer Society in her honor.

She will be missed dearly.