Alice Frances Helmberger, age 80, was born on Feb. 18, 1934, in Salem, S.D. to An¬ton Gottlob and Katherine (Schallenkamp) Gottlob. She grew up in the Salem area and graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1952. During her high school years she earned many honors including being named Homecoming Queen. She then went on to attend St. Joe's School of Nursing in Mitchell, S.D. following in the footsteps of her four sisters and aunt; she graduated in 1955. She was married on August 26, 1957, to Duane Charles Helmberger in Salem. Together they followed Duane's career which took them from South Dakota to Oklahoma to Wisconsin to Mississippi and finally to Texas in 1977 where they settled. Alice worked as a registered nurse for many years while raising their growing family. Her passion for babies extended beyond home into her workplace. She was always an active member of the Catholic communities to which she belonged. Ally had a tremedous sense of humor, loved playing cards, baking bread and pies, and having her entire family around her, whatever the occasion. She was well loved by her family and friends. In her home everyone was considered family. She was a kind and generous person, was a prankster with a sassy attitude loved by all. Alice passed away on April 22, 2014, in Plano.
She is survived by her husband, Duane Charles Helmberger of Farmersville; her chil¬dren and their families, Patti and her husband Lyle Marks of Garland, and their children, Shannon, Nicholas, Ashley, Adam and Anna; Janet and her husband Walter Grinyer of Riv-erside, Calif. and their children, Trey, Karen and Bryna; Stephen and his wife Katrina of Copeville, and their children, Anthony, Chad, Karissa and Renae; Joseph and his wife Debbie of Farm¬ersville, and their children, Duane C. II, Timothy, Allyson, Jared, Rebecca(deceased), Kristen, Stephanie and Chester; Donna and her husband Blake Barry of St. Charles, Ill., and their children Alicia, Bryce, Anton(deceased), Erienne and Brannon; Lori and her hus¬band Peter Dunlop of Murphy, and their children, Kathleen, Sa-mantha, Sara and Kyle; Robert and his wife Kristina of Melissa, and their children, Justin, Morgan, Zachary, Haley and Krista; Mary Jo and her husband Adriel Garcia of Wylie, and their children, Christopher, Lauren and Brandon; Charles and his wife Bridget of Quinlan, and their children, Mariah, Rachel, Abigail, Charlea, Car-oline, Jordan and Johnathan-Dakota; David and his wife Shawnna of Sachse, and their child Hunter; Randall and his wife Evea of Caddo Mills, and their children, Elaina, Rylea and Kase; Katherine of Crowley, and great-grandchildren, Jack, Margaret, Elizabeth, Alice, Jude, Collin and Wade; sisters, Elizabeth Ann of Destin, Fla., Camilla Barbara of Sioux Falls, S.D. She is preceded in death by brothers, Carl Edward Gottlob and Henry Ralph Gottlob; sisters, Lucille, Mary Louise Warner Robbins, and Ila Mae
A Holy Rosary will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Wylie, on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. with visitation be¬ginning at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church in Sherman, on Monday, April 28, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas on Tuesday, April 29 at 11:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer society by calling (800)227-2345 or www.cancer.org in her name. Ecards can be addressed to [email protected] Donations will fund caner research and patient navigation.