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 </figure>Helen Kay Brainard Rhodes was a beloved wife, sister, mother, 
grandmother, great-grandmother and member of the Jennings community. She
 was born on January 11, 1940, and attended high school in Oberlin, KS. 
Since the family lived so far in the country that commuting every day 
was impractical, Helen boarded with a family in town to complete her 
education. She married Bud Rhodes on January 20, 1957, and together, 
they raised three children. 
 Helen had really soft hands and a good heart. After completing her 
education at Colby Community College in 1973, she worked at the Good 
Samaritan in Oberlin, and then the Norton County Hospital, where she was
 an LPN for several years. There, she was known for her hard work, 
kindness to patients, and extra words of comfort and support for those 
who needed it most. She cooked supper nearly every night after work. 
There were never any leftovers, because her kids always ate everything 
there was. 
 Away from work, Helen was a member of the United Methodist Women, a 
member of the Tuesday Study Club of Jennings, and a founding member of 
the Jennings Book Club, which surprised exactly no one, because Helen 
loved to read and to complete the crosswords in the Salina Journal. She
 also loved to birdwatch. Helen and Bud could often be found at the 
kitchen table in the morning, watching the birds in the backyard. 
 Helen never had a bad word to say about anyone. If her kids did 
something silly or stupid, which was known to happen, you didn’t hear 
about it from her. She served others quietly and often in the 
background. Helen cared for both of her parents when they were sick and 
elderly. She was active at the Methodist Church in Jennings, was 
extremely involved in Vacation Bible School, and in her retirement ran 
the Jennings Library. Her grandkids remember that if she was not with 
them, she was likely to be found at church. 
 Despite her kindness and calm demeanor, Helen came with a steel will
 and a good backbone. She survived polio as a child, and heart surgery 
in later years. When her kids screwed up, they knew it right away just 
from the look she gave them. In retirement, Helen decided she’d like to 
have a dog. Her husband, Bud, was less keen on the idea. After she had 
been talking about it for a while, he suggested they make a pro and con 
list. Helen looked at him and said, “Bud, we’re going after the dog 
tomorrow.” And they did. After that, her beloved corgi, Jazzy, joined 
Helen and her lifelong friend, Marge, on their numerous and lengthy 
walks around Jennings and the surrounding countryside.
 For Mother’s Day one year, Bud presented Helen with a chainsaw for a
 present, sure that she would appreciate the practicality. Helen was 
none too pleased, so she went into town and bought a painting she’d been
 eyeing for some time but considered too expensive, as a present for 
herself. 
 Grandchildren and children recall that Bud and Helen’s home was a 
prime meeting spot before and after sporting events for friends. They 
always had food, cold pop, and, after its invention, a Nintendo video 
game system in the basement. Bud and Helen’s house was generally a 
peaceful, welcoming place. Mornings at Grandma Helen’s house often 
featured Froot Loops, grapefruit, or scrambled eggs and toast. She loved
 the piano and played at church and for her husband, and also taught 
several grandkids how to play. She also enjoyed taking grandchildren and
 children fishing, or teaching them dominoes, cards and Yahtzee. 
 Helen’s children and grandchildren are grateful for the excellent 
care provided by the Good Samaritan home in Oberlin, KS, where Helen 
lived for the last three years of her life, due to dementia. 
 Helen passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of the 
morning on Monday, July 27th. She will be deeply missed by those she 
leaves: her children; Jeff, Jerry, and Karen (Kevin); her eight 
grandchildren: Ben (Kelsey), Nickie (Mat), Corey (Ryan), Jessica 
(Tyler), Megan (Justin), Amanda, Katie, and Zachary (Maria); her 
siblings: Bill Brainard (Jean), Ruth Ridge (Jerry), and Donald Brainard 
(Kathy); as well as Ben and Nickie's mom, Sheila, and twenty-one 
great-grandkids. She’s preceded in death by: parents, William H. and 
Lydia (Talbet) Brainard, husband, Richard Bud Rhodes, sisters Terry 
Budig and Elizabeth Brainard, and daughter-in-law Lisa Rhodes.Click <a href="https://www.paulsfh.com/obituaries/Helen-Kay-Rhodes?obId=17672725#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.