Helen Long Flower

1917 - 2018

Helen Long Flower's prayer to go home to be with Jesus was answered on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. She was 101 years old. In recent years she became confused about many things, but that wish was often on her lips and in her heart. She often asked her care-givers and visitors if they knew Jesus and would be going to heaven. Her family was thankful that she always knew us and knew she was loved and cared for. We had a family reunion to celebrate her hundredth birthday in 2017 and more than 50 family members came. As the party was coming to an end, Lorena asked Mom to pray for us all. She thanked the Lord for the family gathering and the good time we had together. Then she prayed that each one of us would follow Christ and live our lives in service for Him. The spiritual values that have guided her life were still evident, though she had lost memory of the things that did not matter so much.

Helen Long was born April 9, 1917, in the house her father, Bert Long, built for his bride, Blanche Green Long, in 1903. Her grandfather, William Long, had settled on the land in 1868. William's parents, Valentine and Phrana Long, had moved their family to Iowa in 1849 because of the availability of land for their large family. He was able to buy nearly 1,000 acres from the government (some for 25 cents/acre) and gave each of his eight sons a farm. William chose to sell his land north of Centerville and buy the land near Seymour. Bert bought his brothers' (Will and Henry) shares of the farm when William died. A son born to Bert and Blanche in 1906 died shortly after birth, and they had little hope of more children when Helen surprised them at age 40. Helen attended the one-room school about a mile from the farm--starting in second grade at age 5 because her Mother, a former teacher, had already taught the basics. She graduated from Seymour High School in 1933 at age 16.
Helen went to Iowa Success School in Ottumwa, studied shorthand and typing and other office skills, and babysat to earn her room and board. She was brought up in church, but accepted Christ as her Savior at a tent meeting in Ottumwa. As she began to study the Bible in earnest, she decided she must break up with a boyfriend who was not a Christian. In 1935 she learned of Open Bible Institute in Des Moines and decided to get a job in Des Moines and attend night classes. When she graduated from the Institute in 1938, she was asked to become the Registrar of the school. She met Marlen Flower there and they were married January 1, 1939.
Helen continued her job at the school and church during the war years while Marlen served in India and China, and her sister-in-law, Evilo, cared for the two boys. Marlen returned in January 1946 and resumed his job as bookkeeper for a meat packing plant. However, word soon came that Bert Long was ill and likely would not live long. They made the decision to move to Seymour and Marlen would learn to be a farmer. He credited the night classes he took and his good neighbors for helping in those early years. Life centered around church and family--and music. Helen found time to sit at the piano with each of the children while they practiced to make sure they were learning it correctly. They lived at the family farm for 51 years until 1997 when they moved to Greenville, South Carolina to be near their children. Marlen died in 2007. Helen lived with Lorena and Ken for 10 years until she required more care.
Helen loved both her vegetable garden and flower garden. She excelled in her sewing and cooking skills. She served the Lord at First Baptist Church of Seymour as pianist, Sunday School teacher, Awana leader, and mentor, along with Marlen, to young Christians.
She is survived by her sons, Dennis (Ruth Ann) of Elche, Spain, and Lance (Janet) of Greenville, SC, and her daughters, Lorena (Ken) West of Simpsonville, SC, and Nancy Smith (fiance' Guy Watkins) of Greenville, SC, as well as 11 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at Mackey Mortuary on Century Drive in Greenville at 3:00 on Monday, Sept. 24 with visitation from 1:30 – 2:45.
The Iowa service will be held Friday, Sept. 28 at 11:00 with visitation at 10:00. Helen will be buried beside her beloved husband, Marlen.