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 HERE for service details.