Helen D. Carnes

She was born October 30, 1935, in Lincoln to Lars C and Clara H (Broz) Jensen. Her family moved frequently. They lived in the Bethany area of Lincoln, Bennet, Wymore, Beatrice and in Greenwood, IA, during World War II, where her mother ran a general store while her father remained in Lincoln to work at the Stop Nut Factory. They finally settled in Virginia, Nebraska, close to her mother’s extended Czech family. She always felt a strong connection to her grandmother Broz. She and her brother Frank spent a lot of time at the family farm in nearby Liberty, Nebraska.

Helen graduated at the age of 16 from Virginia High School, one of a class of six. She attended Dana College in Blair and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a teaching degree. She taught one year at Holmesville, Nebraska, then took a break from teaching to raise a family with her husband Donald. While raising her family, she was active in the March of Dimes, babysat for other families, and helped with her children’s paper routes. She worked at Prescott Elementary as a Paraprofessional for 22 years.

She always made time for her children’s activities (sports, music, Indian Guides, Boy Scouts and Blue Birds/Campfire Girls). The family went on many camping trips, most frequently to the Black Hills and Colorado in the family’s old tent camper, eating out of a cooler as no fast food or other restaurants were allowed. Being frugal, she always kept a garden to help feed her large family (and to keep the kids busy). Helen had a life-long love of reading and learning. She loved making homemade cards along with arts and crafts. She absolutely loved museums. She also enjoyed singing and would sing while doing chores or working in the garden (the neighbor, George, would often join her).

Helen was a lifelong member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was active on various committees. She was also a long-time member of the Danish Brotherhood/Sisterhood Lodge.

In retirement, she donated time to Meals on Wheels and the Gathering Place and tried to attend as many of the grandchildren’s activities as possible. She travelled frequently around the United States with Don, often to visit her children or to help them move. Some favorite trips were to Hawai’i, Washington State, Utah, Denmark to visit family. Being especially proud of her Czech heritage, she took a trip to the Czech Republic with her daughter Donna to visit her grandmother’s birthplace. She was an avid bicycle rider and took long morning walks up into her 80’s.

She is survived by her six children: Dale (Jane) Carnes, Jerry (Silvia) Carnes, Donna (Dave Hughes) Carnes, Roger (Kim) Carnes, Dianne Carnes, Brian (Heidi Calvert) Carnes; grandchildren: Jonathan (Ingrid Jans) Carnes, Theodore Carnes, Erika (Jake) Comer, Alyssa (Ben) Springston, Dylan (Zhikai Yang) Hughes, Evan Hughes, Liam Hughes, Rhys Hughes, Seth (Ashley) Carnes, Jake (Kate) Jurgens, Tria Bivins and Michael Carnes; great-grandchildren: Jade and Kayden Jurgens and Scout Comer.

Preceded in death by husband Donald, brother Frank Jensen and grandchildren Donald and Armando Carnes, Tyler Bivins.