Helen Lucille Rhodes

Helen Lucille Rhodes, 102, of Topeka, passed away on October 31, 2024 at Homestead Assisted Living, surrounded by loved ones.

She was born on April 2, 1922 to Adam and Lena Kleiber (Reuscher) in Tampa, Kansas.

Helen is survived by her three daughters, Susan Boeh (Alan), Jenny Lee (Greg), Nancy Tillman (Dean Spencer), six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J Frank, her parents, two brothers, and a sister.

Helen grew up on a farm where her dad raised wheat. She spent her days helping her mom with all the farm chores of the day, cooking, cleaning, tending the garden, and canning. She walked to a one room school house in grade school where she stayed to eat her packed lunch instead of going home because she felt like her baseball skills were needed in the after lunch game. She later attended Tampa High school where she played the snare drums and best of all met a handsome young man just a year older…the love of her life, and future spouse, Frank!

After graduating Tampa High School, Helen went to nurses’ training at the Wichita School of Nursing. After graduating, she ventured to Denver to work in a hospital where everyday she was approached by Army recruiters enticing her to join. It was a difficult decision because she already had a brother serving in WWII and had lost a sister at a young age. She was convinced and joined the Army Nurse Corp. She did her basic training at Fort Carson and then was stationed at Fort Riley until the war ended. She served for 14 months and would have been the next group to be deployed overseas when the war ended. Despite being separated by her time in the Nurses Corp and Frank’s time in the war serving as a paratrooper in Europe, they continued their writing and their love blossomed in spite of the war. They were married on September 6, 1946.

Helen and Frank became charter members of Trinity Presbyterian Church and had wonderful memories of their early years with friends and the church community.

Family was Helen’s pride and joy. Her entire life has been full of gratitude to God for family and friends. She delighted in any time she could spend with her kids, grandkids and her great grandkids. Her loving smile and “Q-Tip” hair will always bring a smile to their faces.

Private inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her husband.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 1:00, in Topeka, KS, with Meredith Kemp-Pappan, officiating.

Memorials in Helen’s honor and memory may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church of Topeka and Topeka Rescue Mission.

To share a memory of Helen or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.