In Memory of Helen V. Sacquety

Helen V. Sacquety, age 95, of Ida Grove, Iowa, died Thursday, October 10, 2013, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.
           
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, October 13, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa.  The Reverend Chad Lierman will officiate, with burial to follow at the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Helen Virginia Sacquety was born April 14, 1918, in Hayes Township to John and Anna (Larsson) Lantz.  Helen attended Corwin #3 country school for all eight grades and worked for a family for her room and board so she could attend Ida Grove High School.  She took Normal Training, but she was only 17 when she graduated, too young to teach in a country school.  The Superintendent of Schools allowed her to take a post-graduate course where she learned typing, bookkeeping, and shorthand, working in the school office to pay her tuition, and then she taught country school for four years.

Helen was united in marriage to Phil (Buster) Sacquety on March 9, 1940, moving to Phil’s farm in Blaine Township where she still resided.  They were blessed with two daughters, Sharon Virginia and Ann Louise.

Helen worked part time at the County Treasurer’s office, the ASCS office, and Midwest Industries.  Eventually she became the full-time billing clerk at Midwest, a position she enjoyed for at least 15 years, retiring in 1983, to spend time and do a little traveling with Phil, until his death in 1999.

Helen joined the First United Methodist Church when she was 12 and was one of the eldest members.  She was active in the United Methodist Women, serving as president for two years.  She was also a Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star.  Helen liked to take part in church activities, read, work crossword puzzles, and play bridge and euchre.  She loved spending time with her kids, grandkids, and great grandchildren, gathered around the kitchen table.  She was very proud of her Swedish heritage.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Sharon Cranston and her special friend Bill VanLokeren of Cincinnati, OH; Ann and Jim Holst of Ida Grove; and five grandchildren: David and Lauren Cranston of Greenwich, CT, and their children Hadley, Bex, and Chloe; Jennifer Cranston of New York City; Phil and Amy Holst of Whiting, IN, and their girls Emma, Bailey, and Hayden; James and Mary Holst of Milwaukee, WI, and daughter Helen; Brian and Elizabeth (Holst) Schinazi of Oak Park, IL, and son Nathaniel.

Three sisters: Elna Empey of Knoxville, TN; Vera Stewart and friend Bob Stonebraker of Walker, MN; Ruth Benson of Chicago, IL; sister-in-law Marjorie Lantz of Ida Grove, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Phil W. Sacquety, parents John and Anna Lantz; brothers George, Roy and John; sisters Estella Walter and Julia (Lantz) Epstein; brothers-in-law Glenn Walter, Lee Stewart, Jack Benson, Richard Empey, Lloyd Sacquety; and sister-in-law Evelyn Sacquety