Helen L. Baumeister, 96, Spirit Lake

A funeral service for Helen L. Baumeister was held Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, at the Everly United Church. Interment was at Lone Tree Cemetery in rural Everly. Warner Funeral Home in Everly assisted with the arrangements.

Helen Louise Baumeister, daughter of JR and Dolly Thorne (Lorenzen), was born Oct. 5, 1926 at their family home near Moneta. She spent her younger years working on the farm with her dad. She attended Moneta schools through high school, graduating in 1943. After graduation, she continued to help on the farm.

While still in high school Helen began taking flying lessons and got her pilot's license at age 18. She met her future husband at the airstrip on her dad's farm where she taught him flying lessons. One of the fun things Helen did with her dad was to fly to Ohio and pick up two new planes.

Helen married Don Baumeister, of Everly, on Nov. 18, 1946. Following their marriage they moved to Sutherland to farm. After a couple years they moved to Don's hometown north of Everly to farm with his dad, William.

Don and Helen loved playing cards with friends. Helen enjoyed reading, camping, crocheting, square dancing, singing and directing choirs. They were active in the Clay County 4-H program and the Clay County Fair. In between fun things, Helen chose to sell Sara Coventry and loved socializing with others.

Upon retirement, Helen and Don began traveling south in their camper. They ended up living in Pharr, Texas during the winter months where Helen directed the park choir, volunteered in a hospital nursery and helped with education of children in a reading program.

Don passed away in 1993 and Helen decided to become a permanent resident in the resort park in Texas. She kept very active throughout the years, and in 1997 she married Fred Charette, of Canada. They spent time in Texas, Iowa and Canada. Fred passed away in 1999 and Helen remained in her Texas home.

Helen moved to Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake in 2022, where she received wonderful care and met many new friends. She passed away on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, after a short illness.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her two husbands: Don Baumeister and Fred Charette; two sons: Russell Baumeister and David Baumeister; her brothers: Herbert Thorne and Bernard Thorne; her sister, Margorie Scharnberg; and her great-grandson, Kailer McKeag.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Eileen (Roger) Veum, of Chaska, Minn.; Randy (Jerri) Baumeister, of Ames; Lloy Baumeister, of Laguna, Calif.; and Jean Baumeister, of Murdock, Neb.; her brother, Hap Thorne, of Moneta; nine grandchildren: Jason (Jennifer) Veum, Aaron (Lindsey) Veum, Mindy Veum Trapp, Adam (Kelly) Baumeister, Christi (Josh) Kampen, Derek Baumeister, Brandon Baumeister, Justin (Brianna) Baumeister and Quintin (Journie) Baumeister; her eight great-grandchildren; many friends and relatives.