Helen Weller

   Helen Elaine Weller, nee Phillips, age 92, died November 20, 2023, under hospice care after a serious fall.  Helen was born on January 15, 1931, in Lake View, Iowa to Bertha (McKenzie) and Arthur Phillips.  She grew up on the family farm, attended a small country school and later graduated from Lake View High School.  She trained to be a nurse’s aide and worked for several years after high school.  Helen married Loren Weller on December 28, 1958, and spent time in Florida until moving onto the Weller family farm outside Manning, Iowa.  They had seven children over the next 12 years and Helen saw each one of them through childhood, school and into adulthood.  She became a loving Gramma to nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  

   Besides raising her children on the farm, Helen enjoyed baking, gardening and sewing.  She fed her family well and the house was often filled with the smell of freshly baked bread or some sweet dessert.  She had a massive garden, enlisting the help of her children in its care and canning extra produce every year.  Helen was a skilled seamstress, sewing many of her and her children’s clothes and later making many warm quilts to give away.  Helen and Loren took up square-dancing for an extended period of years.  As the children grew up and the house emptied, Helen and Loren enjoyed more frequent driving vacations as well as a trip to Alaska.  Loren died in 2005.

   With accumulating health issues, Helen entered the Manning Plaza nursing home in 2015, along with her son, Dan Weller who had early-onset Parkinsons Disease. They enjoyed the new setting together until Dan’s death in 2021.  Helen continued to enjoy weekly bingo, reading novels and working crossword puzzles, along with frequent family visits.  

   Besides her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband Loren Weller; son Dan Weller; four siblings:  Dorothy Bogue, Duane Phillips, Donald Phillips and Marge Wiegand; and a son-in-law Bill Saunders. 

   Helen is survived by her children: Elaine Saunders of Ankeny; Patricia Joens (Skip) of Des Moines; Bonnie Gill (Butch) of Hoffman Estates, IL; Valerie Saltsgaver (Doug) of Des Moines; David Weller (Julie) of Manning; and Sharon Cable (Matt) of Woodward; eight grandchildren: Amy Gill (Stephen Rosen); Anna Gill Knudson (Tom); Jonathon Saunders (Quynh); Luke Saunders; Madeline Cable; Cameron Cable; Justin Weller (Kali); and Jordan Weller; step-grandchild Dereck Trimpe (Samantha); two great-grandchildren: Vy Saunders and Mai Saunders; brother William Phillips (Delores) of Red Wing, MN; and two sisters: Janet Boom of Lake View and Judy Matthews of Brooklyn, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Manning Library in recognition of Helen’s lifelong love for reading (123 Main Street, Manning, Iowa  51455).

The Funeral Service for Helen Weller was held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Ohde Funeral Home, Manning, Iowa with Pastor Lori Shannon Officiating.

Casket Bearers were David Weller, Justin Weller, Jordan Weller, Dereck Trimpe, Cameron Cable and Jonathon Saunders.

Honorary Casket Bearer was Luke Saunders

Interment was held at the Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa.