Helen Arlene Moore Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helen A. Moore, 93, of Grand Island passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2019. A memorial service in her honor will be held on Saturday, October 26 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church, Cairo, NE. 107 E Nile St., Cairo, NE. Helen Arlene Softley was born to Lloyd A. and Alice (Keinschmidt) Softley in Grafton, Nebraska, on August 26, 1926. She attended school in Grafton. In 1943 she graduated from the same high school her parents had graduated from in 1921. She received a Regent’s Scholarship to the University of Nebraska. She then graduated with an ACE two-year degree in 1945. After some time doing secretarial work she returned to Lincoln and the University registering with the psychology department planning to work half days. In October of 1947 she met William (Bill) Moore who had returned from serving in the army, having been drafted at age 18 on VE Day. After a time of dating and enjoying the social season, Bill and Helen decided to become engaged. They were married in June, 1948 in the Chapel of St. Paul Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Two weeks later Bill left for his summer tour with the Army Reserve at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Helen worked for the Extension Agronomy Department until the doctor felt she needed to prepare for the birth of their child. Lana Beth was born in early 1949. Bill graduated with his Dairy Major in June 1950. Since his brothers had returned to the family farm they took a rented farm near Hampton, Nebraska. Bill was baptized by Pastor A. J. Rich the same evening Lana was baptized. In early 1951 Ronald Allen was born. Bill accepted the opportunity to become dairy herdsman at the Wyoming Industrial Institute, Worland, Wyoming, in December, 1953. The year following the birth of William Patrick in early 1954, Bill decided he needed to go to seminary to become a Methodist pastor. He was accepted as a student, with conditions, at Garrett Biblical School on Northwestern University campus, Evanston, Illinois and Helen contributed by editing and typing many of his assignments. The next five years were spent as the student pastor family serving the Sheridan United Methodist Church and the 300 plus non-Roman inmates at the Illinois Industrial Institute. In 1960 they moved to their first full time pastorate. In 1960 when Bill graduated, Helen returned to part-time work on her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Helen finally achieved her goal, a BSA in Psychology in June,1969. Lana was in her sophomore year of college. The family served four United Methodist churches in Illinois until June 1971 when they began serving the Milford (NE) United Methodist Church. In 1991 Bill and Helen retired and moved to the Nebraska City vintage home they had purchased in 1979. They had served churches since 1955, including six churches in Nebraska. Bill died on July 31, 2017. Two weeks later Helen moved to Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island, where she enjoyed an independent living apartment. Over the years Helen was secretary to the Dean of Women at the UNL Ag campus, secretary to the Arts and Science Division of Shimer College in Illinois. In 1972, she served as secretary to Labor chairman Sen. Moylan for that Nebraska Legislative Session and had an opportunity to fill out a second session midterm. She was private secretary to Red Cross Chairman Milller of Omaha and served as a social worker with native Americans on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She voluntarily fulfilled various United Methodist Women duties over the years including District delegate to World Convention during mid-60s and participated in, or established a Women's Prayer group in most of the churches they served throughout their time of ministry. Helen is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill; and her brother, Lloyd. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Lana Armstrong (Hugh) of Bluffton, SC, Ron Moore (Rebecca) of Divide, CO, and Pat Moore (Julie) of Litchfield (Hazard), NE; eleven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren; a brother, Ken Softley of Topeka, KS; and a sister, Judy (Bill) Wickham of Marana, AZ.

Helen Arlene Moore

August 26, 1926 - October 10, 2019

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Helen Arlene Moore

August 26, 1926 - October 10, 2019

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