Helen M. Linn

November 2, 1910 — November 7, 2010

Helen M. Linn Profile Photo
Helen Marguerite Linn, daughter of Charles and Anna (Nicolai) Young, was born November 2, 1910 on a farm near Hancock, Iowa. Helen was baptized and confirmed at the Silver Creek Evangelical Church near their home. She attended a country school in James Township where she completed eight grades in just five years. When Helen was ten years old, her father was killed in a runaway horse accident. They continued to operate the farm for four years and then moved to Shelby, Iowa. Her mother married Lee Mowery during this time. Helen graduated from Shelby High School with the class of 1927 at the age of 16. She then attended Business School in Omaha.
While in high school, Helen met and dated Jake Linn who was in her class. They were later united in marriage on August 17, 1932 at her mother�s home in Shelby. They settled on a farm outside of Shelby, not far from Jake�s parents farm. Later they moved to a farm near Hancock. Together they raised two children: Ann and Paul. They established a Grade A dairy herd and milked cows for several years. In addition to farming, Helen was one of the first women assessors in Pottawattamie County.
After Jake had a heart attack they sold their dairy herd and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Helen worked at N.P.I. When Jake�s health improved he went back to work, as a dairy field man for Iowa Nebraska Milk Association. Helen took a new job at Nebraska Methodist Hospital where she was later promoted to supervisor of their insurance department. During the time they were in Omaha they were members of St. Paul�s Methodist church. Helen and Jake both retired in l975 and built a home in Shelby. In l981 they decided that the Harlan community would better meet their needs such as doctor, hospital, grocery stores and other businesses so they moved to their home on Baldwin. They joined the First United Methodist Church in Harlan where they became involved in many activities such as teaching Sunday School and she was a sponsor for several confirmation youth as well as a Stephen Minister.
Jake was diagnosed with leukemia and Helen spent over four years helping Jake fight the disease. After Jake�s death in 1988 she felt lonely because many of her neighbors were snow birds in the winter and some also went north in the summer so she sold her home and moved to independent living in Elm Crest Community in 1989. Later she moved into Assisted Living and finally into the nursing home at Elm Crest where she died on November 7, 2010, just five days after her 100th birthday. Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She is survived by her daughter, Ann and husband Bill Workman of Omaha, Nebraska; son Paul Linn and wife Janet of West Des Moines, Iowa; five grandchildren: Bill Workman and wife Sharyl, Linda Podany, Teresa and husband Frank Crawford, Douglas Linn and wife Gaile and Elizabeth and husband Ted Banholzer; thirteen great grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; brother Delmar Young of Des Moines; sister-in-law Ann Linn of Sheffield, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Rev. Dr. David Swinton officiated the 11:00 AM Funeral Service at First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Interment was held in Shelby Cemetery. Serving as casket bearers were Joe Linn, Keith Robinson, Jim Linn, Dennis Linn, Robert Simon, and Roy Linn.



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