Obituary of Helen Maxine Dettmann

Helen Maxine Dettmann, the daughter of Donald V. and Jessie Helen Hasbrouck Patrick, was born March 11, 1925 in Mapleton, Iowa. She graduated from Mapleton Consolidated schools and attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. On September 9, 1946, Helen was united in marriage with Emeron Dettmann at St. John's Methodist Church in Mapleton. She had taught country school and worked as a legal secretary for a time before joining the Newton Daily News. She worked as a reporter, writer, editor and photographer, retiring in 1984. Helen was a past member of the Kellogg United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years, the Rainbow for Girls, the Des Moines Rose Society and was currently a member of the First United Methodist Church in Newton. Helen loved her family and instilled them with her love for music. She enjoyed baking and playing the piano. Helen had served on many boards over the years, including the Newton Salvation Army, Hospice of Jasper County and the Heart Association. Helen died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Hospice of Jasper County Monarch Wing at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was 85 years old. Helen was preceded in death by her parents. Those left to honor Helen's memory include her husband of sixty-three years, Emeron Dettmann of Newton; her daughters, Jan (Ron) Backus, Jean (Bob) Ibbotson and Julie (Sam) Parsons all of Newton; her five grandchildren; her three great grandchildren; her four step grandchildren and 8 step great grandchildren; her sister, Mary (Glenn) Tripp of Colorado and her brother, Jesse (Lari) Patrick of New Hampshire. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 10th at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. Family will greet friends from 5:00 till 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Memorials may be designated to the Music Department at First United Methodist Church or to the Kellogg United Methodist Church or Hospice of Jasper County.