Helen Margaret (Bishop) Durr passed away in Salina, KS, on May 18, 2021,
at the age of 95. Helen was born November 14, 1925 at Beaver, KS. She
was the third of four children born to George Earl Bishop and Anna
(Schremmer) Bishop.
Helen grew up in Beaver, Kansas and
graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic school there. Her father accepted
a job in Holyrood, KS and the family relocated there in 1941. In
Holyrood she met her future husband Dale Dane Durr. They were married
August 19, 1947 in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holyrood, KS. In
March 1948 they moved to the Durr farm home located 2 miles south, 3
miles east and ¾ mile south of Smith Center, KS in Crystal Plains
Township, Smith County, KS. Their son Dan Dale Durr was born in 1950
and son Douglas Don Durr was born in 1954. The boys attended rural
Pleasant Dale School until their 3rd (Douglas) and 7th (Dan) grades. In
1962 the family moved their rural home to 310 Park Street, Smith
Center, KS. Helen worked part time at Stevenson’s Men’s Clothing Store
and for 22 years at Chandler’s and Weltmer Livestock Auction office.
After 48 years together, Dale, Helen’s love, friend and life partner,
passed away on March 17, 1996. Helen and Dale loved the time spent with
friends playing cards, dancing and visiting. After Dale’s death Helen
greatly missed the social times with other couples. Helen loved people
and she was involved in many social groups. She was a charter member of
St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Altar Society. Some of her social clubs
included Golden Oldies, Silver Needle, Garden Lore Club (for 57 years
in 2019), card clubs of bridge, pitch and pinochle. She enjoyed her
hobbies of crocheting and jigsaw puzzles. Helen organized the Red Hat
chapter in Smith Center in June 2004.
In 2009, Helen moved
from her home at 310 Park Street to the new Smith Estates apartments in
Smith Center. She was very happy there and made many new friends.
Helen was always so grateful to her many young friends who helped her to
enjoy the many activities during her “golden years.”
She was
preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Lawrence and Julius Bishop,
sister Ethel Driscoll and grandson David Dane Durr. A seven carnation
bouquet has been placed on her casket in colors of 3 red, 3 white and 1
blue in memory of the deceased members of her immediate family.
Helen is survived by her two sons and two special daughters-in-law ̶
Dan Dale Durr and Laurlee “Laurie” (Braden) Durr of Tumwater, WA and
Douglas Don Durr and Marcia “Jo” (Gilg) Durr of Salina, KS. Her
surviving grandchildren are: Amy (Devin) Harder, Faskatoon, WA; Dustin
(Susan) Durr, Salina, KS; Jaci Durr, McPherson, KS. Her surviving great
grandchildren are Dylan Potter, WA; Baleigh Harder, Olympia, WA;
Madison Durr, Jessie Durr & Dylan Dane Durr, Salina, KS. Surviving
great great grandchildren are Elie Potter, WA. She is also survived by a
sister-in-law Lawanda Freese, Hutchinson, KS, and a very special person
in her life, niece Marilynn Reid, Lakewood, CO.
Helen will
be missed by many who loved her as she loved them, but she is surely now
smiling down on all of us as she sends her love and blessings to each
and every one.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at
10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 403 W.
Highway 36, Smith Center, KS with Father Soosaimari Rathinam
celebrant. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 24, 2021, from 1:00
p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Bible Service starting at 7:00 p.m. at All
Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS. Burial
will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Smith County Memorial Hospital and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.