Helen Adaline Velte, the daughter of Carl John and Mertie Edna (Rice) Velte, was born February 19, 1908, in Farnam, Nebraska, and departed this life on Wednesday, June 2, 1999, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 91 years, three months and 13 days.

She received her education in the Farnam schools and graduated from Farnam High School. Following her graduation from high school, Helen attended Kearney State Teachers College in Kearngy, Nebraska. Helen Taught school in a country school in Nebraska fro one year. On May 6, 1928, Helen was united in marriage to Bert S. Farmer in Farnam. Following their marriage, the couple farmed in Nebraska until 1940, when they moved to the Terril and Graettinger, Iowa area. In 1969, they moved into Graettinger. The couple spent many winters in Arizona following their retirement in 1973. Bert died November 5, 1988. Helen has been a resident of the Good Samaritan Care Center in Estherville since August of 1993.

Helen was a member of the United Methodist Church in Graettinger, UMW and the Graettinger Senior Citizen's Center. She enjoyed reading, cooking, painting, flowers, playing the piano, gardening and church work.

Helen is survived by three daughters, Marilyn Egeland and her husband, Don of Ossian, Iowa; Carolyn Hansen and her husband, Rodney of Wallingford, Iowa; Arlene Polly and her husband, Bruce of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, Donna Farmer of Estherville; twenty-two grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; brother, Gaylord Velte of Grant, Nebraska; and sister, Florence Spearman of Lincoln, Nebraska. She has been preceded in death by her husband; one son, Sam; one daughter, Myrtle; two grandchildren; her parents; two sisters; one brother; and two sons-in-law.