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Helen Lorraine Mallette, age 88 of Blair passed away peacefully December 25, 2021, at Carter Place. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday December 29 at 1:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Blair. Graveside services will follow in the Blair Cemetery. Public viewing will be held Tuesday, December 28 from 6 to 8 PM.

Helen was born January 1, 1933, in Blair Nebraska to Harold and Hazel Rasmussen. Helen graduated from Blair High School in 1950. In 1951 Helen was named Princess Nebraska for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. The festival information pamphlet described her as “a pert brunette with sparkling hazel eyes”. One Omaha World Herald story reads “she had Nebraska’s two senators and a congressman fighting over who would pay for her meal.”

On August 9, 1953, Helen was united in marriage to Pat Mallette at First Methodist Church of Blair. Helen enjoyed traveling with Pat when he would referee NFL games around the nation. In 1980, Pat and his wife Helen became co-owners of the Driftwood Inn for 15 years. She enjoyed ballroom dancing but especially loved the true highlights of her life, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pat, daughter Crystal, daughter-in-law Janet, brother Don Rasmussen.

She is Survived by her children, daughter Lori (Merle) Hansen, son Patrick Mallette, grandchildren, Mandy (Mike) Giles, Haley (Christian) Jacobson, Katy (Jake) VanNoy, Melissa (Brian) Rushing, Becky (Andy) Max, PJ (Cassie) Mallette, and Michael Mallette, 15 great-grandchildren, Cora, Ellis, Oliver, Clara, Jackson, Josie, Calina, Hope, Chase, Celissa, Leo, Harper, Whitt, Jemma, and Hannah, brother Bill Rasmussen and sister Opal (Jack) Jensen.

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In Loving Memory of Helen Lorraine Mallette

Born January 1, 1933 Blair, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest December 25, 2021 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Service 1 pm Wednesday, December 29, 2021 First United Methodist Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Russ Foust. Pianist: Sheri Matzen. Musical Selections: “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Silent Night”

Pallbearers: Mandy Giles, Haley Jacobson, Katy VanNoy, Melissa Rushing, Becky Max, PJ Mallette, Michael Mallette

Final Resting Place: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska Campbell Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #235319759