Helen Maurine Bay Dunham

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

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