Helen Louise (Moss) Tufts

Helen Louise (Moss) Tufts met her Lord and Savior face to face on February 19, 2025. Helen was born June 1, 1928, in Davenport, Iowa, the second child of Lester “Cowboy” and Ruth L. (Shinn) Moss. She attended grade school in Davenport until 6th grade when “Cowboy” took a job as plumber for the Camp Dodge military facility and the family moved to a home on the post on March 1, 1940. Helen then attended Johnston Consolidated schools, graduating in 1946. During her high school years, she was active in band, basketball and vocal music. She worked during the summers at Pioneer Hybrid Corn Company in their inbred breeding department during her years of high school. After graduation she worked for Dr. Bill Brown (a geneticist) at Pioneer. In March 1947 she entered Broadlawns School of Nursing, where she also played on their softball team. She graduated in March 1950 and began her career in nursing working at Broadlawns in the operating room, the surgical unit, as an instructor in the school of nursing and finally as night supervisor until her retirement in 1990.

She spoke often of her Sunday School teacher who shared the plan of salvation with her and Helen placed her faith and trust in Jesus Christ on May 22, 1942. On October 4, 1952, she married Gerald Tufts Jr. and moved to the farm near Bondurant, living in the home they built until her last breath. They have three children, Mark Allan, James Bryan and Jane Louise. She was an active member of the Federated Church of Bondurant for 72 years, singing in the choir and serving in various positions on the church board. Gerald and Helen kept their faith at the center of their marriage and home. Beyond their involvement in their beloved church, global missions were an important part of their outreach. This included corresponding with missionaries, hosting them in their home for a meal, providing a home for them to live, or supporting financially and in prayer. They loved to learn of how God was working around the world.

She was a member of the Alumni Association of Broadlawns School of Nursing and served as its president for several years, was a member of the Johnston High School Alumni and a member of The Johnston Station Historical Society, and the Bondurant Historical Society. She also was on the board of the Des Moines East Christian Women’s Connection. Helen loved gardening and taking care of her yard and was an avid jigsaw puzzle worker in her spare time.

When Gerald retired from farming, they took their grandchildren, one by one, to Washington DC when each of them was in 5th grade and studying American history. These four trips developed many not-to-be forgotten experiences for each one. These trips included their parents as chaperones because they had never been to Washington DC. One of the highlights of these trips was taking the two-day bus tour of the Washington area, listening to very informed drivers bringing out the importance of what we were seeing. Her kids, grands and greats were the apple of her eye. There was always time for her family no matter what was going on.

Helen is survived by her children, Jane (Keith) Christiansen and their children Johnathan and Thomas (Sara) Christiansen; Jim (Deb) and their children Bryan (Courtney) Tufts, Lauren (T.J.) Phillips, Lindsay (Zack) Pogorzelski, Emily Tufts (Anthony Berry); Mark and his children Mathew (Erin) Conaway and Dustin (Angela) Conaway. Her great grandchildren Jayden, Mason, Carson and Owen Phillips, Ava and Kerrigan Conaway, Rayne and Rowen Conaway. She is also survived by her siblings Susan (Charles) Hilliard and Steven (Karen) Moss, sister-in-law Delores Moss, sister-in-law Jeanette (Robert) Fay, and brother-in-law James Crady. A host of many nieces, nephews and cousins, and many dear friends survive as well. Helen is preceded in death by her husband Gerald in July of 2016, her parents Lester and Ruth, and her brothers Richard (Anna Belle) and William.

Helen’s celebration of life service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 2nd at the Federated Church of Bondurant, 103 2nd Street SW in Bondurant with visitation to follow. She has now joined the eternal family of God, forever being at peace with Him!

The family would like to thank the staff at EveryStep Hospice in Des Moines for their support. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Polk County Jail Ministries (Des Moines) or Hidden Acres Christian Center (Dayton, Iowa) or to the family for Helen’s treasured missionaries around the world.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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