Merle (Hale) Helling

Merle (Hale) Helling, 96, a long time resident of Mitchell, passed away at the Mitchell Care Center and went to be with her Lord, Thursday, January 11, 2007. Her funeral service will be held 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 19, 2007, at Mitchell Federated Church with Pastor Charles Richardson officiating. Interment will be in the Mitchell Cemetery. Friends may visit from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. A memorial has been established to the Mitchell Care Center. Merle was born December 20, 1910, at Stella, Nebraska, the fifth child of thirteen born to Thomas and Maude (Noah) Hale. At a young age her family moved to a homestead north of Ashby, Nebraska. Then in 1923, they moved to Rockport, Missouri, where she graduated from the eighth grade. In 1927, they moved to Mitchell. On January 19, 1929, she married Oreval M. Helling at Torrington, Wyoming. They moved to a farm north of Mitchell and then in 1936, they moved to Mitchell. Merle worked at the Potato Dehydrating Plant in Mitchell during World War II, Patrick’s (brother-in-law) Cold Storage in Mitchell, Great Western Sugar Factory in Lyman, Brown Bean Company in Morrill, sold Avon and Amway, and owned Merle’s for Ladies Clothing Store in Mitchell.She started oil painting in her 70’s. She was a true Nebraska football fan and loved to travel with her sister, Grace Patrick and sister-in-law, Midge Stock. Merle was a member of the Federated Church in Mitchell. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Merlin and Shirley Helling of Mead, Washington; sister-in-law, Midge Stock of Casper, Wyoming; daughter-in-law, Karen Helling of Scottsbluff; son-in-law, Dick Barrett of Morrill; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband, Oreval; son, Oreval L.; daughter-in-law, Audrey; son, Alan L.; daughter, Darlene Barrett; nine brothers; and three sisters.