Helen L. Phelps, 82, of Decatur died Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at the Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at the United Methodist Church in Decatur. Interment at a later date will be at the Decatur Hillcrest Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 23, with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah.

Helen L. Bailey was born Feb. 17, 1928, in Decatur, to V. Earl and Mary E. (Salley) Bailey.

She grew up in the Quinnebaugh area and graduated from Decatur High School. She received her teaching certificate from Midlands College and taught at the Deman School in the rural Decatur area.

On July 31, 1949, she married Paul C. Phelps at the First Baptist Church in Tekamah. The couple had four children.

Mrs. Phelps loved to dance and decided to teach her husband-to-be after they started dating so they could join their friends on the dance floor. They spent many Saturday nights at dances/Fireman's Ball dancing the night away. She worked in the Red Feather in the '70s and was later employed in the County Assessor's office, where she worked until her retirement in 2000. She also became an Avon representative and she was often seen around town displaying the latest offerings to women in the community. She was active in various organizations in the Decatur community. She was a member of Eastern Star where she worked her way through the offices to become Worthy Matron. She was Guardian of Job's Daughters and found much enjoyment working with the young girls and being involved in her daughters' activities.

Mrs. Phelps was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Decatur and enjoyed playing the piano at Sunday morning services. She also played for the choir and found great pleasure being involved with all aspects of music for the church. She served as board president of the Senior Center for several terms. She liked being with people and helping with all the activities at the Center.

She inherited her love of flowers from her mother and spent many a sunny day in her flower beds. After retirement she took this to a new level, filling her yard with numerous pots of flowers. Her love of family extended to her nieces, nephews and their families.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Beth Phelps of San Francisco, Calif., Kaye and Gary Trisdale of Blair, Judy Phelps of Omaha; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Helen Newton, Phyllis Smith, Melva Huffman; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; son, Randall; granddaughter, Carly; brother and sister-in-law, Norris and Mary Bailey; sisters and brothers-in-law, Maxine and Lester Miller, Edna and Steve Walter; brothers-in-law, Doyle Phelps and his wife Maxine; Bill Phelps, Leroy Newton, and Jim Smith.

Phelps, Helen L., 82

Published in Omaha World Herald on 22 July 2010

PHELPS, HELEN L.

age 82

Decatur, NE. Survived by daughters, Beth Phelps of San Francisco, CA, Kaye (Gary) Trisdale of Blair, NE, Judy Phelps of Omaha, NE; 2 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 10:30 am at the United Methodist Church in Decatur. MEMORIAL VISITATION AND PRAYER SERVICE Friday, July 23, 2010 at 6-8 pm with a 7 pm Prayer Service at the funeral home. Private Family Burial Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, at a later date. Memorials to the family.

PELAN FUNERAL SERVICES TEKAMAH Tekamah, NE 402-374-1551 www.pelanfuneralservices.com