Helen Charlotte Lary, the daughter of Claude and Ruth (Collins) Purdue, was born January 25, 1920 in Cass County, IA. She died September 13, 2018, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, IA, at the age of 98 years, 7 months, and 19 days.
Helen attended school in Griswold. While in school, she played in the school band that won the national band contest two years in a row. Helen graduated from high school with the class of 1937. Helen then attended nursing school at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines. She graduated in 1944. Helen then became a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps until the end of WWII. She and Laurence Lary were united in marriage on October 19, 1944. They lived in Baltimore and she worked as a registered nurse at a hospital there until the end of the war. They moved back home to Griswold and purchased and operated a radio and electric business, until changing their business, and starting Lary Insurance Agency. That business was operated for 25 years. Helen and Laurence lived in Griswold until 2006, when they moved to Atlantic. Laurence died December 27, 2006. Helen continued to live in Atlantic until the time of her death.
Helen was a member of the Griswold United Methodist Church and had been active in several organizations. She was pleased to be one of the eight original persons that started the Cass County Museum. Helen's family events on "The Hill" were so special for her and created many memories for all. The delight of her life were here nieces and nephews.
Helen is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brothers, Wayne Perdue, Arlo Perdue, and Galen Perdue; her sister Pearle Brown Seeley; and several nieces and nephews.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Margie Perdue of Omaha, NE and Joan Perdue of Elkhorn, NE; her nieces and nephews: Pamela Towne of Henderson, IA, Rebecca Hill of Red Oak, IA, Claudia Perdue of Omaha, NE, Elizabeth Karanda of Wahoo, Ne, Janet Olechaski of Omaha, NE, Bruce Perdue of Lake Head CA, Julie Webber of Omaha, NE, Daniel Perdue of Wahoo, NE, Douglas Perdue of Omaha, NE, Linda Stevens of Washington, UT, Virginia Haines of Lancaster, NH, J.W. "Wick" Clark of Lakewood, CO, Dean Lary of Griswold, IA, Phyllis Cernik of Omaha, NE, Dorothy Croxell of Griswold, IA, Betty Marganthaler of Anacortes, WA, Ted Elliott of Camano Island, WA, Barbara Merrifield of Anacortes, WA, Norman Wright of Marion, IA, and Jean Varner of Clearfield, UT; and many great nieces and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 10:30 AM at the Griswold United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Griswold Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is in charge of arrangements.
