NAPPANEE - Freeda Helmuth, 95, of Nappanee, died at 3:30 p.m. March 3, 2011, in I.U. Health Goshen Hospital.
She was born Dec. 6, 1915, in Mylo, N.D., to William and Anna Graber Schwietert. On Dec. 6, 1936, near Nappanee, she married Eli H. Helmuth, who died Feb. 21, 1993.
Moving to Indiana in 1935, she was a homemaker, she and her husband were foster parents for more than 25 years and she had a daycare in her home until the age of 93. She was a member of Salem Mennonite Church and was involved with the Nappanee Missionary Church's Sewing Circle and attended Nappanee Care Givers.
Surviving are three sons, Mervin (and spouse Sharon) Helmuth and James Helmuth, all of Goshen, and Jerry (and spouse Carolyn) Helmuth, Wakarusa; four daughters: Elsie Beachy, Elkhart; Esther (Enos) Yoder, Leon, Iowa; Ida Helmuth, Goshen; and Sue Ramer, Davenport, Fla.; 20 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; and a sister, Elma (and spouse Irvin) Slabach, Roanoke. She was preceded in death by a son, an infant daughter, a foster son, a great-grandson, a great-great-granddaughter, six sisters and three brothers.
Services will be at 10 a.m. March 12 at Salem Mennonite Church with Bishops Terrill Yoder and Clarence Bontrager officiating. Burial will be in Weldy Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, and one hour prior to the service March 12 at the church.
