Helga Boldt

Helga Boldt, was born in Karlsruhe Durlach, Germany on October 29, 1929 and passed away July 17, 2018, at Poet’s Walk, Fredericksburg, VA. She was 88 years old. Helga was a seamstress in Germany, housewife and in later years the secretary for her husband’s business. She was the past First Lady for the Sun City, Arizona Elks Lodge Post 2559. Helga had an adventurous spirit. While a teenager growing up in Germany during World War II, she was forced to leave her city and move to Germany’s farm land to learn about farming. It was something that Adolf Hitler demanded of the teens to learn about the different cultures in Germany. That didn’t sit well with Helga and she told the owner of the farm that she wasn’t milking cows, handling the hay nor anything else that went with farming. Helga walked away from the farm and during her travels through the woods she saw the devastation the war had brought to her homeland and the many dead and starving civilians. When she got back home she took care of her younger brother and prepared the meals for the family. It was as a teenager she learned about perseverance and responsibility. Helga also worked as a maid to obtain additional money for the family. After the War, Helga married an American GI from the farm land of Davenport Iowa; however, she never went into farming. She quickly learned what it took to become a military wife. Helga was very outspoken but always very pleasant. For over 21 years, Helga went through hardships and culture shock. Helga always persevered even when her husband as well as her son went to fight in the South Vietnam War. Throughout her life she faced many hurdles and obstacles but because of her inner strength and fortitude she managed things as only a military wife can. Helga is survived by her son Ralph Boldt (Shelby) of Stafford; brother Armin Hellmund (Bonnie) of Pennsylvania; granddaughter Sheila Phillips (James) of Stafford; grandson Darin Boldt of Fredericksburg; two great grandchildren, Courtney Kincaid and Zachary Phillips and nephews, Thursten Hellmund, David Hellmund and John Hellmund. She is preceded in death by her husband Donald Boldt; parents, Otto and Meta Hellmund; brother and sister in law Egon and Margaret Hellmund. A graveside interment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mary Washington Hospice, in memory of Helga Boldt, 2600 Mary Washington Blvd. Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 or online at www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/services/hospice Online condolences may be sent to mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com