Walter Helser

1927 - 2021

Walter Edward Helser October 12, 2021 With great sadness, our father, Walter Edward Helser, 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE. His funeral service will be held 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the Federated Church in Mitchell, NE with Reverend Dr. Charles H. Richardson officiating. Interment will follow at the Mitchell Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, October 18, 2021 at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell, NE. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Federated Church or to the Sunflower Historical Society. Online condolences may be left at www.jones-mortuary.com. Jones Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements. Walt was born April 26, 1927 in Reseda, CA to Thomas Edward and Thelma Etta (Robbins) Helser. At the age of 3 the family moved to the family farm in the Sunflower Community north of Scottsbluff, NE. He attended Sunflower Community School and graduated in 1945. He married Donna Mae Ford on April 28, 1948 and to this union 5 children were born, Linda, Marsha, Cheryl, Steve and Kevin. Walt and Donna together farmed in the Sunflower Community until the mid-1980's. Walt later worked for the Island Cattle Company and Hergert Feed Yard until 2007 and helped his son Steve farm. He loved to take his little red boat out to Lake Minatare and Lake McConaughey to fish and watch the kids ski with the Keeners. Walt and Donna enjoyed going to auctions looking for the perfect antique railroad lantern he could add to his collection along with Donna's butter mold and carnival glass collection. After retirement he became a master craftsman, spending may hours building wooden animal banks, lamps and many other projects he would give away. Walt was a dedicated family man and would help others any way he could. He was a 4-H member and leader along with Jack Henderson and Bill Strey from 1937 to 1961. Walt was a member of the Odd Fellows of Mitchell, a Sunflower High School Bus Driver for 8 years, a longtime member of the Federated Church of Mitchell and was on the Board of Directors at Production Credit Association. He is survived by his daughters Linda (Gary) Lytle of Cerritos, CA, Cheryl Helser-Garcia of Mitchell, NE; sons Steve (Jennifer Hiegel) of Omaha, NE and Kevin of Mitchell, NE; son-in-law Doug Rexus; 8 grandchildren Troy, Terry, April, Melissa, Kristen, Rusty, Misty and Lacey; 18 great grandchildren Aleksey, Drake, Evan, Haylea, Brady, Braxton, Tylii, Tayler, Tanner, Kayleigh, Emily, Audrey, Aiden, Charlette, Finnagan, Caidyn, Autymn, Harmony; great great granddaughters Pyper and Owyn; and sisters Dorothy Henderson and Jeannette Brock. His was preceded in death by his wife Donna; daughter Marsha Rexus; son-in-law Paul Garcia; parents Tom and Thelma Helser; in-laws George and Jesta Ford; sister Mary and brothers Larry, Howard, Jim and Kenny Helser.