Helen Ritchie Westcot

Helen Ritchie Westcot, 97 of Des Moines, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Des Moines. Visitation will be Sunday, October 6, 2024 at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home, 4200 1st Avenue NE at 11:00 a.m. followed by a noon service. Interment and luncheon will be private. She was born on September 24, 1927, on a farm in Rochelle, IL to Franklin and Ruth (Countryman) Ritchie. Helen attended Iowa State University where she met her future husband Jim in ISU Marching Band. She graduated in 1949 with a B.S. in Food and Nutrition and after marrying Jim that summer they moved to Cedar Rapids where they made their home for many years. She was an active community member participating in PEO, DAR, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Questers. Helen loved music, researching genealogy, and travel. She was very social and enjoyed her many bridge clubs and dinner clubs. She was a lifelong ISU booster, she and Jim enjoyed attending ISU football games. She loved to spend time with her family and was loved by all. Helen is survived by her children, Julia Westcot and Nancy Hotchkiss; son-in-law Tom Becker; grandchildren, Ellen (Matt Russell) Becker, Carol (Craig) Bartz, Leigh (Da'Rell), Crittendon, James (Madeline Goebel) Hotchkiss and Colin McCarty,and great-grandchildren, Casen Bartz, Carson Bartz, Cruz Crittendon and Giselle Crittendon. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim; daughter Susan Becker; her parents, and brother, Robert Ritchie. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010, to benefit the ISU Marching Band. Gifts may also be made online at www.foundation.iastate.edu. Click 'Give Now' and put Helen's name in the Memorial Section. Memorial donations may also be directed to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 74, Rochelle, IL 61068. Gits may also be made online at www.rochellefoundation.org by selecting the Unrestricted Endowment Fund and noting Helen's name in the Message Line. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.