Helen Jean Little was born on August
23, 1923, in Burlingame, Kansas, the youngest of four daughters of
Dave and Margaret Little.
In 1936, the family moved to Newton, where
Dave owned the Little Farm Equipment Allis Chalmers dealership until
1957. Helen graduated from Newton High School in 1940 and from Bethel
College with a teacher's certificate in 1942. She and Charles E. (Bud) Hart (NHS -
'39) were married on August 5,1942, at 1st Methodist Church in
Newton. Four children were born to them: Charlotte Ann (Hart) Jost, Newton,
Grant l. (and wife Sharon) of Burien, WA., Janet Joy (deceased), and
James Edward (and wife Kathy) of Spokane, Wa. In 1958, the Hart
family moved to Sacramento, Ca. Charles E. died in 1975 and is buried
in Newton.
While living in California, Helen
worked for Sacramento County for 20 years and enjoyed living in
Campus Commons and volunteering at La Casa. Helen moved back to
Newton in December 2011 and had resided at Presbyterian Manor.
She has two granddaughters: Amy (Jost)
Claassen of Hesston, and Jennifer Hart of Portland, Oregon, three
grandsons: Matt Hart of Tiburon, Ca., Eric Hart of Berkley, Ca., and
Kevin Hart of Kent, WA., and five great-grandchildren: Jordan,
Kelson, and Kyler Claassen of Kansas, and Sidney and Noelle Hart of
California.
She was a member of Salem UMC, Newton.
She has many good friends in Sacramento and Newton. She went to join
other loved ones in heaven on March 14, 2015; she chose to donate her
body to KU Medical Center; a memorial of remembrance will be held at
Salem United Methodist Church, Newton, at 5 p.m. on Friday,
March 27, 2015.
Memorial donations may be made to
Presbyterian Manor, Newton; Hospice and Homecare of Reno County,
Hutchinson, Ks; or Sacramento Children's Home in Sacramento, Ca. Helen was
appreciated by many for her kindness, welcoming spirit, quiet
demeanor of faith and the unconditional love for all her family,
including in-laws, nieces and nephews. Petersen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
