Helen Maurine Bay Dunham
December 01, 2012
Helen Maurine Bay Dunham, 98, passed away at the Iowa Jewish Life Center on Saturday, December 1, 2012. Services will be held on Friday, December 7, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., at United Methodist Church, 701 Eaton in Dunlap, Iowa. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dunlap, Iowa.
Helen was born to Mabel Elder Bay and Benjamin Taylor Bay on November 9, 1914, in Oakland, Iowa. She moved with her family to Ireton, Iowa, in Sioux County as a very young child. She attended school in Ireton and graduated in 1932. She attended Iowa State Teachers College, now University of Northern Iowa, and received a Primary Teaching Certificate. She taught school in Woodbine, Iowa, and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Helen married John R. Dunham on June 19, 1940, and lived on the Dunham family farm at Dunlap. Three children were born to this union, Thomas C. Dunham of Austin, Texas, Mary Clark of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Susan Bjorkgren of Ames, Iowa. Helen continued her education in various area schools and received her B.S. Degree from Dana College in 1969. She taught fourth grade in the Dunlap Community School System for 17 years.
Helen was a member of the United Methodist Church, a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of the Past Matrons Club, Retired Teachers Organization, and an active member of Entre Nous.
She is survived by her children, Thomas (Ann) Dunham, and Mary (Dick) Clark; grandchildren, Melissa (Russell Stout, II) Dunham-Stout, John (Erika) Dunham, Nathan (Marsha) Smithey, and Courtney (Shannon) Schwartz; great-grandchildren, Hailey Stout, Russell Stout, III, Maggie Stout, Hudson Dunham, Grace Smithey, Clark Smithey, Reese Smithey, and Porter Schwartz; and son-in-law, Craig Bjorkgren. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, John; daughter, Susan Bjorkgren; and her sisters, Rhea Landing, Yvonne Hershman, and Mona Ruth Casey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Dunlap United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
phyllis anderson
12/11/2012
Mary and Tom ..Sending our sympathy to both of you and your families....Mary know how you took care of your mom and how you are feeling..our mom passed away in Sept. after suffering from alz. I also took care of her and it is our greatest gift we could of gave them...know you are in my thoughts and prayers.....Phyllis
Carol Rannells Newland
12/07/2012
Sadly, I just learned about Helen's death today, and it was too late to attend the funeral. Please know the Rannells family admired and respected your mother so much. You have our sincere sympathies.
John and Gail Roush
12/06/2012
Dear Tom and Mary, it has been a rough year for our losing our moms, please know you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. She was a wonderful mother. Love, John