Helen Ries, 90

March 5, 1929 —

Sept. 25, 2019

 

ELMA - Helen F. Ries, age 90, of Elma, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at Colonial Manor in Elma.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes, Iowa with Father Jerry Kopacek celebrating. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the mass on Saturday. Burial will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Online condolences for Helen’s family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com.  Memorials may be directed to the family.  

Helen Frances Ries was born on March 5, 1929 on the family farm at Lourdes to Vincent “Jim” and Mary Rouchka. She attended school at Lourdes. After completing her education, she helped on the farm. It was there she met her future husband, Herold Ries at the Elma Coop and Creamery. The couple was united in marriage on Nov. 24, 1954 at Our Lady of Lourdes. The couple made their home near Elma, where they farmed side by side until Herold’s death on Sept. 28, 1988. 

Helen enjoyed gardening, canning and working hard on the farm. She also found time to enjoy reading, especially westerns and watching classic westerns on TV. Helen’s greatest love was caring for her cow/calf herd until moving to Colonial Manor. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Elma and active with the Rosary Society.

Helen is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herold in 1988 and a brother, Wilfred in 1986.

Conway-Markham Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.