Helen Newsom

Helen Newsom, 88, of Des Moines passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2013. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 17 at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare in Winterset where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines. Memorials may be made to the family and on-line condolences may be left for the family at ochiltree.com. Helen Eileen Potter was born December 24, 1924 in Pleasanton, Iowa, the daughter of Dewey and Merle (Blakesley) Potter. She graduated from Leon High School in 1942. She married Paul Peterson in 1946 and to this union her two children were born. In 1985, she married George Newsom. Helen worked at Sears for 30 years and was a member of the ABWA, American Business Women Association. After retirement she enjoyed traveling to such places as Alaska, Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean. She also loved spending her winters on Padre Island. Helen is survived by her children, Shari Brown of Eldon, MO and Michael (Jessica) Peterson of Lorimor; two grandchildren, Lori Parks and Michael Peterson II; ten great grandchildren, Wesley, Zachary, Levi, Hunter, Shean, Nicholas, Brett, Jordane, Sidney and Sam, and three great great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Paul Peterson and George Newsom; her siblings, Leland Potter, Leah Massey, Gerald Potter and two grandchildren, Cole Peterson and Lisa Geary.