Helen E. Holmes

A service for Helen E Holmes was held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation was from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Visitation with the family was one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Pastor Tim Johnson of the First Christian Church in Perry provided words of comfort. Honorary bearers were: Mashell Emmert, Erica Ritter, Melissa Bickel, Rachael Holmes, Erin Holmes, Lex Ritter, Loren Ritter, Penelope Holmes and Tucker Holmes. Casket bearers were: Dustin Holmes, Matthew Holmes, Mark Emmert, Aaron Bickel, Greg Strait and Larry Benedict. Elta Summerson was the pianist. Hymns chosen were Amazing Grace, In The Garden and The Old Rugged Cross. Interment took place at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. Helen Elizabeth Holmes, daughter of George H. Miller and Nona Storms Miller, was born December 24, 1927 at Woodward, IA. Helen died March 7, 2015 at the Perry Lutheran Home where she had resided for almost six years. Helen was 87 years old. Helen's family moved to Perry when she was very young and she was educated in Perry. She married Benjamin John Holmes Sr. on January 4, 1947 in Adel, IA. They enjoyed almost 50 years of marriage before Ben died at a young age in 1997. Their children, Nancy and Ben Jr. continued to be supportive to Helen as they were to both parents all those years. Over time, Helen had worked at Mc Donald Drug and Ben Franklin. She worked for over 26 years at the Woodward Resource Center in the dietary department until her retirement. Helen loved her family, especially her grandchildren, loving taking them on walks. And, of course, the sweet addition of four great grandchildren (with one due in May.) Helen was a member of First Christian Church and Ladies of the Moose. She was an Iowa Hawkeye football fan, enjoying the games on the radio with Ben and later on television. Helen loved to go fishing and carried on with her and Ben's love of gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ben, and grandson-in-law Don Ritter. Helen is survived by and will be very missed by her daughter Nancy Emmert and husband Darrell of Dallas Center; son Ben Holmes Jr and wife Sandy of Perry; her precious grandchildren, Mashell Emmert of Urbandale; Erica Ritter of Adel; Melissa Bickel and husband Aaron of Clive; Dustin Holmes and wife Rachael of Ankeny; and Matthew Holmes and wife Erin of Perry; great grandchildren Lex Ritter; Loren Ritter; Penelope Holmes; Tucker Holmes; Baby Bo Bickel due in May; other relatives and many friends.