Helen Fiihr

George, IA: Helen Fiihr, 94, of George, Iowa, died Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society of George.

   Memorial Service will be 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2023, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in George with Rev. Ernest Gardner III officiating. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow. Private family inurnment will be at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery prior to the service.  Porter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   Helen Fiihr was born August 14, 1928, near George, Iowa, to Dick Betten and Helen Harms (Garrels) Geerdes. As a young child, she was baptized at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. She attended the Wheeler #2 country school for eight years and then attended George High School and graduated in 1946. After graduation she attended a summer school session of the Iowa State Teachers College held at Spencer, Iowa. Her teaching career began that fall in a rural school. Fourteen years were spent teaching in rural schools. Helen received her B.A. degree from Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, in 1996 after attending numerous summer and night school sessions. Twenty-eight years were spent teaching at the George Elementary School.

   On December 29, 1951, she married Wilbur H. Fiihr who died in November of 1970. Helen was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church after marriage. While attending Immanuel Lutheran Church, Helen taught Sunday School and served a term on the Parish Education and Archive boards.

   She served on the Lyon County Historical Society for thirty years in different capacities: a board member for twelve years, secretary, co-curator, and finally as curator. Helen also spent forty-two years working with the George Bicentennial Museum and serving as cleaning lady, secretary, and finally as chairman of the board. She served on the Lyon Sesquicentennial of Iowa Committee, where she was the secretary and helped organize activities. From 1993-1995, as one of the museum board members, Helen helped to correct misinformation, gather additional information, and write a book of the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery records. Another joy of Helen’s was working for Suma’s Flowers for a few years where she enjoyed the opportunity to cut gladiolas.

   Helen is survived by nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Theodore Geerdes; two sisters, Ida Shaffer and Alice Heikes; her husband’s siblings and spouses; infant niece; two nieces; nephew; and a great-great niece.