Helen Hilliard Baptist's Obituary
Helen (Hilliard) Baptist, daughter of Fred A. and Ethel Flower Hirst Hilliard, was born August 5, 1920, in Chamberlain, South Dakota. She passed to her rest Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at the age of eighty-seven years, six months, and thirteen days. In December, 1943, in Chamberlain, South Dakota, she was united in marriage to Lee Baptist, and to this union six daughters and three sons were born. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a son, Benjamin. Helen is survived by her loving husband of sixty-four years, Lee, of the home; six daughters, Amelia McBride, and her husband, Duane, of Berrien Center, Michigan, Ellen Giem, and her husband, David, of Sullivan, Missouri, Irene Mueller, and her husband, Don, of Leesburg, Florida, Orla Anderson, of Oroville, California, Ulena Robinson, and her husband, David, of Sutherlin, Oregon, and Zetta Gore, and her husband, Richard, of Angwin, California; two sons, Leon Baptist, and his wife, JoAnn, of Magalia, California, and Byron Baptist, and his wife, Barbara, of Luray, Virginia; twenty-two grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; a brother, Don Hilliard, and his wife, Lila, of Keene, Texas; a sister, Virginia Ahlberg, and her husband, Vernon, of Brownsville, California; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. From childhood to her teens, Helen lived in Saint Joseph, Missouri. She worked her way through a private high school in Broadview, Illinois, as a maid and nanny in homes of the well-to-do. She then worked as a practical nurse at William Mason Memorial Hospital in Murray, Kentucky. After she and Lee were married, they made their home on a farm near Jacksonville, Illinois, for many years, where Helen was busy rearing their large family. She enjoyed gardening and growing beautiful flowers, visiting friends, and sharing Christian literature. In 1975 they moved to Riverside, California, where she did housecleaning for friends and neighbors, and Lee managed the farm irrigation for La Sierra University. In 1980 they moved back to the Midwest, near Lebanon, Missouri. Early in her life, Helen accepted Jesus as her Savior and joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She volunteered many hours of help with the Community Services at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, when it was on Washington Street, and later at Crosslines Ministries. Helen “never met a stranger” and was loved by all. Of course she will be missed. She is sleeping, waiting for the Lord’s call to life in the first resurrection. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 25, 2008, in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Lebanon. Burial will be in the Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 7 - 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Return to top
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