HELEN STAUTH

HELEN STAUTH Helen was born Helen Lorraine Swafford in Pratt, Kansas, the daughter of Nellie Williams Swafford, who came from Pennsylvania to the Kansas prairie in a Conestoga wagon, and Raymond Michael Swafford, who farmed. She attended schools in Byers, Kansas and Dodge City, Kansas, and was elected Floor Show Queen as a sophomore at Dodge City Senior High School. She graduated from Dodge City Senior High School in 1943 and married Andrew Michael Stauth, a Dodge City native, on June 30, 1943, becoming like so many other women her age a war bride. She and "Mike" enjoyed 72 1/2 happy years of marriage. She gave birth to three children: Randy Michael (1944), Linda Kay (1948), and Brent Eric (1961). Helen enjoyed her life as a homemaker, whether baking, gardening, or sewing, and was active in her church and community. In mid-life she took up golf and became a keen competitor until her 90th year. From 1994-2004 she and Mike spent winters in Scottsdale, Arizona and summers in Dodge City. In 2004 they moved to Scottsdale full time and made many friends there, playing golf and dancing weekends at the American Legion. She was a doting grandmother and loved having her grandchildren stay with her or visit, and followed their achievements as she had those of her children. In February 2019 she moved to an assisted living facility in Dallas, Texas, not far from her daughter's home. There she died peacefully on December 15, 2023. She was pre-deceased by her parents, siblings, husband Mike (2016), and son Randy (2018). She is survived by daughter-in-law Sandy Stauth, Westminster, Colorado; Linda K. Hughes, son-in-law Carroll W. Hughes, both of Duncanville, TX; Brent E. Stauth, daughter-in-law Jennifer Stauth, both of Indianapolis, Indiana; grandchildren Heather L. Johnson, Michelle Hoban, Darren Stauth, and Andrew Stauth; thirteen great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and another on the way. She will be interred next to her husband at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on January 26, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, Paradise Valley, Arizona, where she was a longtime member (https://pvumc.org/giving/) or to any organization that promotes peace and humanitarian aid.