Helen M. Thune

Funeral services for Helen Marie Thune, formerly of Humboldt, Iowa, will be held Monday, August 17, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Humboldt with Father James Tigges officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Humboldt. Visitation is from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. A parish rosary service will take place beginning at 5:00 p.m. and a scripture prayer service beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home on August 16, 2009.
Helen Marie Thune, daughter of William and Ella (Sarah Ellen Feltis) Casey, was born on May 15, 1912 in Bluffton Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1930 with a Normal Training Certificate. She was a teacher in rural schools in the Decorah area for the next ten years. She was married to Ernest M. Thune at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah on August 10, 1939. They made their home in Decorah until 1941 when Ernest transferred from the Decorah Fish Hatchery which was originally known as Sievers Springs Bass Hatchery to the State Fish Hatcher in Humboldt. Due to failing health, Helen moved to the Marian Home in Fort Dodge on December 26, 2001. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Ladies Society.
Helen was well known as an excellent seamstress and as a checker at local grocery stores. She enjoyed her work and continued to work after Ernest’s death in 1979. She retired from Fareway at age 76. Many times since then, she remarked about missing her co-workers and the customers she came in contact with at the store. Helen loved cooking and baking, often sharing them with others. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Many fun evenings were spent with friends and family playing the card game 500.
Helen passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa at the age of 97. She is survived by two daughters Marilyn Thune of LeMars and Karen (Everett) Kumm of Titonka; five grandchildren, Matthew (Patti) Kumm, Allison Kumm, Beth (Jeff) Harms, Phil Daniels, and Natalie (Grant) Terkildsen; two step grandchildren, Darwin (Georgann) Kumm and Dawn (Tony) Ockomon; seven great grandchildren; Tyler JoAnn and Lauren Kumm, Alex and Casey Harms, and Gracie, Breanna, and Nelson Terkildsen; three great-step grandchildren and seven great-great-step grandchildren. She is also survived by her special cousin, Joanne Martinek of Cresco, Iowa who was raised by her parents Will and Ella Casey as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Ella Casey; Husband, Ernest; Daughter, Janice Daniels; Grandson, Ernie Daniels; and sisters, Catherine Pankow and Alice Dow.