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Helen McKain Barnason Saum

Helen G. McKain Barnason Saum, 78, of North Platte died Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at her home in North Platte.

Helen was born April 13, 1929, at North Platte to George Glen and Clara Christine Kammerer McKain. She graduated from Farnam High School in 1946, Mary Lanning Memorial School of Nursing in 1949 and received her masters in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1985.

On July 16, 1949, Helen married Norman M. Barnason at Phillipsburg, Kan. To this union four children were born. Norman preceded her in death on April 1, 1993. In 1984, Helen married Harry L. Saum at Wheatridge, Colo. Harry preceded her in death on Sept. 3, 1993.

Helen was a registered nurse for 52 years serving as staff nurse and night supervisor at St. Mary's Hospital for 26 years, then as night supervisor and vice president of nursing at Great Plains Regional Medical Center for 13 years. She then worked for the American Red Cross Blood Services for 10 years. She also worked at Sunset Haven Nursing at Curtis and West Central District Health Department and also volunteered at the Health Clinic at the Lincoln Connection. Nursing was a large part of Helen's life.

In 1979, Helen was voted "Woman of the Year" by the Junior Women's Club of North Platte. She received the National Organization of Nurse Executive Award from District III in 1982 and 1989. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren, traveling with her family and playing bridge with her friends.

Helen was a member of the National Order of Nurse Executives, National League of Nurses, Sarah Rebekah Lodge No. 10 and lifelong member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving on the church council and evangelism committee.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Cecil Florom; two brothers, Warren McKain and Clarke McKain; and sister, Betty Miller.

Surviving family includes Terry (Coleen) Barnason of North Platte, Julia (Alec) Todd of Seneca, S. C., Gene (Tracee) Barnason of North Platte and Jill Barnason of North Platte; a stepdaughter, Pam (Randy) Koch of Cozad; eight grandchildren, Brad Welden, Heidi (Brian) Smyth, Holly Barnason, Jenifer Barnason, Alan Sullivan, Cory Sullivan, Heather (James) White and Kris Law; three step-grandchildren, Jeremy (Bailey) Koch, Jennifer Koch and Jacque Koch; and six great-grandchildren, Keira and Shelby Smyth, Trayton and Neva White, Justin Welden and Carter Barnason.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Helen Barnason Nursing Scholarship Fund at Great Plains Regional Medical Center at North Platte and to the Great Plains Home Health and Hospice.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Eric Meissner of the Messiah Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today, Sept. 30, 2007, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore and before the service at the church on Monday.

North Platte Telegraph, 30 Sept. 2007; Submitted by Dale Rice



Published: 3/29/2024 - http://www.historicfarnam.us/cemetery/obits/index.asp
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