Helen I. Parsons, 87, of Humboldt, passed away October 23, 2011 at the Careage Health Care Center in Fort Dodge. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 29, 2011, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt with the Rev. Lynda Bigler officiating. Interment will be in St. Olaf Cemetery, Bode. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Church. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Humboldt is in charge of arrangements.
Helen was born in Aurora, Illinois on October 5, 1924. Helen’s parent’s were Milton and Irene (Schmidt) Judt. Helen grew up in a family home in Aurora with her mother, father, brother Robert, Grandma Schmidt, and Aunt Bea. She graduated from High School at age 16, one year early, and worked in Chicago as a secretary. In September of 1941, she enrolled at the University of Iowa with a major in Vocal Music. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority where she headed the choral group. Helen’s family faced the tragedy of the loss of her brother, Robert, who flew fighter planes when his plane crashed into the sea while conducting night training exercises.
At the end of World War II, Helen met Claire D. Parsons, a Captain in the Marine Corps who had returned from the Pacific Theater were he flew DC3 transports to complete his studies at the University of Iowa School of Law.
Following Claire’s graduation from law school, he and Helen moved to Humboldt where he joined his father, Edward Parsons, in his law firm, which became Parsons and Parsons Law Offices and Humboldt County Abstract Company.
In Humboldt Helen was active in the Humboldt Community Theater and Performed in various musicals including Music Man, The King and I, and Oklahoma. She was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ where she was active in the Women’s Fellowship, sang in the church choir, and often sang solos for Weddings and funerals. She was also a member of the Sewing Club, the Fort Dodge Duplicate Bridge Club, several bridge clubs in Humboldt, and competed at several National Bridge Tournaments. Helen and Claire were members of the Humboldt Country Club and at one point Helen was a very good golfer and competed in several golf tournaments.
Helen is survived by her three children, Karen (Dennis) Lange of East Bethel, MN, Robert (Nancy) Parsons of Humboldt, and Dr. Donald (Denise) Parsons of Sioux City; grandchildren, Andy Lange, Matthew Parsons, Christopher Parsons, and David Parsons; step grandchildren, Bill Freese, Jenny Lappin, Molly Giese, and Misty DeGraff; and eight step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Claire D. Parsons; and brother, Robert Dean Judt.