Clarence Frederick William Helms

Clarence Frederick William Helms, age 93, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away July 25, 2014 at Good Samaritan Society – Arapahoe. Clarence was born on January 21, 1921 to Henry C & Bertha (Hinz) Helms on the family farm Northeast of Arapahoe, Nebraska. He was baptized & confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church Northeast of Arapahoe, Nebraska. & also attended Immanuel Lutheran School through the 8th grade. On February 16, 1944 Clarence married Lois Stillman at St. Matthews Lutheran Church northwest of Arapahoe, Nebraska. Clarence & Lois celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on February 16, 2014. To this union four sons were born; Lanny, Randy, Dick and Bruce. Clarence enrolled in Co. 754 CCC Camp SCS-Neb-23 Beaver City, Nebraska. on June 25, 1941. During this six month period, Clarence worked on the surveying crew, tractor crew, and as a tractor driver. He also serviced & operated a Diesel type 50 tractor. Clarence traveled to North Platte, Nebraska. to work for Orvil Kuhlman, picking corn by hand & working with the Polled Hereford cattle on the Kuhlman Ranch & the W. F. Cody Scouts Rest Ranch. On March 17, 1944, Clarence was inducted into the U.S. Army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. After his Basic & AIT training at Ft. Benning, Georgia & camp Pendleton, California, Clarence was shipped to Germany where he worked in the motor pool during the Ardennes, Rhineland & Central Europe campaigns. Clarence attained the rank of TEC 4 Motor Sergeant & was in charge of maintenance on 25 vehicles & supervised 28 mechanics & drivers. He also was in charge of dispatching drivers & vehicles to & from the front lines. Clarence was honorably discharged & separated from U.S. Army on April 28, 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington. When Clarence returned to Arapahoe, he worked for two years as a mechanic at the International Dealership of Arapahoe. Clarence moved his bride to a farm seven miles north of Holbrook, Nebraska. that he was able to rent from his Uncles William & Charles Stillman. Clarence enjoyed raising milo, wheat, hay, chickens, milking cows, and raising Polled Hereford cattle. Clarence formed a partnership with Uncle Henry Haussler, known as Haussler & Helms Polled Herefords. In March of 1962 Haussler & Helms Polled Herefords dispersed their partnership. Clarence took the money from the sale & purchased the farm on the West Muddy Creek from Uncles William & Charles Stillman. Clarence would rebuild his Polled Hereford herd, known as Helms Polled Herefords. He exhibited many champion Polled Herefords on a local, regional & national level. On October 24, 2004 the American Hereford Association awarded Clarence with a Golden award for raising Hereford cattle for more than 50 years. Clarence was a 4-H club leader for many years for the Busy Beavers 4-H club in Gosper County North of Holbrook, Nebraska. He also held various offices & positions in the Nebraska Polled Hereford Association. Clarence faithfully served his Lord & Savior by regular attendance, holding offices, serving on committees & boards for St. Matthews Lutheran Church, St. Pauls Lutheran Church-Cambridge, Nebraska, & Trinity Lutheran Church Arapahoe, Nebraska. Clarence was a member of the Burton Bends VFW 9357. Proceeded in death by his parents, brothers: Reinhold & Henry, sisters: Viola Monter, Bertha Evers, Edna Downing, Loreen Flicker, & Alice Irene Helms. Survivors include his wife Lois Helms of Arapahoe, Nebraska. Sons: Lanny (Martha) Helms of Arapahoe, Nebraska Randy (Linda) Helms of Holbrook, Nebraska Dick (Bonnie) Helms of Arapahoe, Nebraska Bruce (Sue) Helms of Holbrook, Nebraska. Brother: Edwin(Grace) Helms of Arapahoe, Nebraska Sisters: Ruth McGhghy of Greeley, Colorado Lucilla Carr of Elkhorn, Nebraska 10 Grandchildren, 14 Great Grandchildren. Condolences or personal reflections can be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com Viewing & visitation will be Monday, July 28, 2014 from 4 PM until 8 PM at Wenburg Funeral Home, Arapahoe, Nebraska & prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Arapahoe, Nebraska. with Pastor James Moshier, officiating. Interment will be at Arapahoe Cemetery at Arapahoe, Nebraska. Military rites will be given by the Arapahoe American Legion & Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard. The family is suggesting that memorials be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church Radio Station, Good Samaritan Society-Arapahoe or Mission Central 40718 Highway E16 Mapleton, Iowa51034-7105.