In Memory of Helen Marie (Pryor) Sales
Helen Marie (Pryor) Sales, age 92, of Battle Creek, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Reverend Kevin J. Freese will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church, of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com
Helen Marie (Pryor) Sales, the daughter of Howard and Leta (Straight) Pryor was born on June 7, 1925, at the home of her paternal grandparents in Council Bluffs, IA.
Her early years were spent in rural Logan and Dunlap, IA, were her parents farmed. She began kindergarten in Dunlap, but soon moved to the country where she was advanced to the 1st grade. This resulted in her early graduation at the age of 16. She shared fond memories of her youth in Willow Township, attending school at Willow #3 and Willow #4 country school. At the age of 80 years old, Helen was able to trace her youth with her daughters throughout the Loess Hills and took us to these schools and the farms where she spent her youth.
Helen’s parents moved to Woodbine when she was in junior high school. She and her sister, Cleo, boarded in Dunlap during the week and returned home on the weekends. During this time, she babysat for a school teacher and worked at the drug store. Helen graduated from Dunlap High School in 1942.
On February 26, 1944, Helen married Lou Dale Sales in Omaha, Ne. They began their married life in Woodbine, IA before relocating to Battle Creek, IA in 1945; where they have shared 73 years of marriage together. The family grew in size with the births of their five girls, Jeannette, Barbara, Diane, Charlotte, and Karen (Corky). As Dad would say, he was surrounded by six women. Home was like a college dormitory with the business of all our activities. Many times our mother would be mistaken for “just one of the girls”.
Helen was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, IA, where she was honored as a 50 year member. Helen enjoyed working with the Presbyterian women to served the local Lyons Club and also belonged to the Pleasant Valley Women’s Club.
Helen was a wonderful role model for us. She led by her honesty and respect for other people. One of her sayings was “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all”. (A good lesson for all of us). With all the responsibilities of being a farm wife, there was not a lot of extra time for hobbies. Helen was an extraordinary cook and forever in the kitchen cooking and baking, knowing on any day that Dad would bring the feed salesman or delivery man in for lunch or a noon meal.
As the years passed and we girls left home, Mom and Dad began golfing, playing cards, traveling and dancing. Oh, how they loved to dance! They enjoyed the “big bands” and sharing that time with many friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; sister Cleo Wolfson; brother Robert Pryor; an infant brother Bernard Pryor; grandson Lynn Ott; great-grandsons Smith and Wesson Blackmore; great-granddaughter Lindsey Quirk; and son-in-law Richard “Dick” Meier.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband Lou Dale Sales; daughters Jeannette (Richard) Ott, Barbara Meier; Diane (Tom) Castle, Charlotte (Bill) Uhl, and Karen “Corky” (Darwin) Blackmore; grandchildren Kevin Ott, Susan (Calvin) Carver, Sandra (Bill) Allen, Sherri (Kel) Anderson, Shelli (Jason) Dannenberg, Michael (Heidi) Meier, Adam (Randi) Castle, Jeana (Lane) Todd, Matthew (Sandy) Castle, Sarah (Micah) Gitlin, Lori (Darrin) Roeder, Lisa (Bryan) Quirk, Sean (Tamie) Blackmore, and Shannon (Jenny) Blackmore; 35 great-grandchildren; brother Bill (Carol) Pryor; and extended family and friends.
SERVICES
10:30 am, Wednesday,
January 3, 2017
First Presbyterian Church
Battle Creek, Iowa
OFFICIATING
Reverend Kevin J. Freese
CASKET BEARERS
Pallbearers (Grandsons)
Kevin Ott
Adam Castle
Matthew Castle
Sean Blackmore
Shannon Blackmore
Michael Meier
Honorary Palbearers (Grandfaughters)
Lori (Uhl) Roeder
Lisa (Uhl) Quirk
Susan (Ott) Carver
Sandra (Ott) Allen
Jeana (Castle) Todd
Sarah (Castle) Gitlin
Sherri (Meier) Anderson
Shelli (Meier) Dannenberg
VISITATION
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm,
Tuesday, January 2, 2017
First Presbyterian Church
Battle Creek, Iowa
MUSIC
Dixie Brueck, Organist
Mary Jo Watson, Pianist
Instrumental Selection
"How Great Thou Art"
Vocal Selection
"In The Garden" By Sarah (Castle) Gitlin
Recorded Selections
"The Lord's Prayer" By Sherri (Meier) Anderson
"Woodchopper's Ball" By Glenn Miller
INTERMENT
Mount Hope Cemetery
Battle Creek, Iowa
Condolences
We are sorry to hear of your moms passing. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Sincerely, Jim and Shelly Vesper”
Loren and Janice Jepsen”
We were indeed saddened to read of Helen's passing. She was a wonderful lady, quiet but cordial, always a smile and a compliment. I never heard her speak badly of anyone, always looking for the good in people. She was a very wise woman but never thought of herself better than anyone. She will be missed by many but now rests in the arms of her Loving Lord and Savior in Heaven where we are promised to see her again when we reach our real home. We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers and may He grant you His eternal Peace.
Loren and Janice Jepsen”
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