Ida Grove, Iowa
Mary Catherine Helen Humeston, 69, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Bickford Senior Living in Urbandale, Iowa. A funeral mass will be held Monday, January 19, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel at St. Augustin Catholic Church in Des Moines. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Albia, Iowa.
She was born to Dwight Whited Humeston and Mary Bates Humeston on January 26, 1945, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Helen graduated from Albia High School in 1963 and received a BA in History and Japanese Language from Clarke College in 1967, an M.A. from Creighton University in U.S. History/International Relations in 1969, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in History of American Policy/Asian Studies in 1981. Helen also received an M.L.I.S from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Public Services/Academic Libraries in 1992.
Helen was devoted to learning, serving as a college professor, dean, and librarian at various institutions of higher learning including Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin and College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. Helen was also a writer publishing numerous articles and short stories using the pen name “Mary Ireland.”
Helen was well traveled and spent time in Hawaii, Japan and China. She loved visiting and studying the Far East and had a keen interest in political discourse. Helen also had a great love for animals, especially her cat, Yuki. She was a member of the PEO sisterhood, the Minnesota Library Association and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ida Grove, Iowa.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two sisters, Peggy (Keith) Goldsmith of West Des Moines, Iowa and Sandra (Don) Corrigan of West Lafayette, Indiana; her brother, Tony (Donna) Humeston of Albia, Iowa; and several nephews and nieces, Peter Goldsmith, Paul Goldsmith, Philip Goldsmith, Thomas Goldsmith, Gina Graham, Joe Corrigan, Shannon Rezek, Christopher Corrigan and Mary Stater.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Clarke University Library, Dubuque, Iowa.
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