Helen B. Nielsen
March 31, 1912 — February 22, 2008
Helen Bernice Nielsen was born on March 31, 1912 to Raymond and Myrtle (Hunt) Tryon in Defiance, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Defiance Christian Church and remained a member there until 1925, when she became a member of Defiance Evangelical Church. Helen attended all twelve years of schooling at Defiance Consolidated School. She graduated from high school with the Class of 1930.
Later that same year, she was united in marriage to Albert Hulsebus in Harlan, Iowa. Two sons were born to this union: James and Kenneth. After her marriage, she owned and operated a produce station in Defiance until 1937, when she bought and operated the general store in Cooper, Iowa where she also provided teachers with room and board. She belonged to the Cooper Methodist Church until 1949.
She spent six years as the bookkeeper at Ellerbrock’s Dress Shop, which was a good fit for her. Helen was very talented as a seamstress and made a lot of her sister’s clothes. She also crocheted and knitted.
In 1958, she became employed at the Commercial Bank of Carroll as a bank teller and joined the Carroll Methodist Church. Helen retired in 1971 after the death of her husband. When her son Kenneth died in March of 1983, she didn’t hesitate to help raise his children.
Helen was married to Alfred Nielsen on April 21, 1975, in Carroll, Iowa, until his death twenty years later. Regardless of what life threw her way, she kept her positive attitude and continued to work hard. She did enjoy her hobbies when she had free time and wrote poetry, painted, and played cards with friends. She was a great cook and shared that talent with many family and friends. Helen never thought of herself and will be remembered as the rock of her family and community.
Helen moved to the Clearwater, Florida, to be closer to her son, James. It was in Madeira Beach, Florida, where she died on February 22, 2008, having attained the age of ninety-five years, ten months, and twenty-two days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Albert Hulsebus and Alfred Nielsen, her son Kenneth, grandson Gary Hulsebus and granddaughter Michelle Hulsebus, brothers Raymond, Clarence, and James Tryon, and sister Nona Mae Densmore.
Helen is survived by her son James Hulsebus and his wife Nancy of Madeira Beach, Florida, four grandchildren: Michael, Patti, Stephen, and Thomas Hulsebus; four great-grandchildren: Gary, Christopher, and Kelli Hulsebus and Curtis Sawyer, one great-great-grandchild, Serenity Hulsebus; other family members, and friends.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Pastor Keith Pals officiated the 10:30 AM service with interment at Union Township Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were: Mike Hulsebus, Frank Jorgenson, Steve Hulsebus, Jim Tryon, Dale Tryon, and Ron Tryon.
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Later that same year, she was united in marriage to Albert Hulsebus in Harlan, Iowa. Two sons were born to this union: James and Kenneth. After her marriage, she owned and operated a produce station in Defiance until 1937, when she bought and operated the general store in Cooper, Iowa where she also provided teachers with room and board. She belonged to the Cooper Methodist Church until 1949.
She spent six years as the bookkeeper at Ellerbrock’s Dress Shop, which was a good fit for her. Helen was very talented as a seamstress and made a lot of her sister’s clothes. She also crocheted and knitted.
In 1958, she became employed at the Commercial Bank of Carroll as a bank teller and joined the Carroll Methodist Church. Helen retired in 1971 after the death of her husband. When her son Kenneth died in March of 1983, she didn’t hesitate to help raise his children.
Helen was married to Alfred Nielsen on April 21, 1975, in Carroll, Iowa, until his death twenty years later. Regardless of what life threw her way, she kept her positive attitude and continued to work hard. She did enjoy her hobbies when she had free time and wrote poetry, painted, and played cards with friends. She was a great cook and shared that talent with many family and friends. Helen never thought of herself and will be remembered as the rock of her family and community.
Helen moved to the Clearwater, Florida, to be closer to her son, James. It was in Madeira Beach, Florida, where she died on February 22, 2008, having attained the age of ninety-five years, ten months, and twenty-two days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Albert Hulsebus and Alfred Nielsen, her son Kenneth, grandson Gary Hulsebus and granddaughter Michelle Hulsebus, brothers Raymond, Clarence, and James Tryon, and sister Nona Mae Densmore.
Helen is survived by her son James Hulsebus and his wife Nancy of Madeira Beach, Florida, four grandchildren: Michael, Patti, Stephen, and Thomas Hulsebus; four great-grandchildren: Gary, Christopher, and Kelli Hulsebus and Curtis Sawyer, one great-great-grandchild, Serenity Hulsebus; other family members, and friends.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Pastor Keith Pals officiated the 10:30 AM service with interment at Union Township Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were: Mike Hulsebus, Frank Jorgenson, Steve Hulsebus, Jim Tryon, Dale Tryon, and Ron Tryon.
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