Helen L. Thatcher

Helen L. Thatcher, 91 of Sioux City, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at a local hospital after a brief illness.  Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Wesley United Methodist Church with Reverends Todd Schlitter and Laurice Streyffeler officiating.  Lunch will be served in the Family life Center, and burial will follow at Graceland Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Friday, May 7^th, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. A mask is expected to be worn for all services.  Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.  The service will be livestreamed on the Wesley United Methodist Church Facebook site.  Online condolences may be offered at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Helen was born on April 28, 1930 in Moville, Iowa to John and Carrie (Reinders) Smith.  In her early years, she moved with her family to several communities and graduated from Sloan High School with the Class of 1949.  When she was a roller-skating car hop at Jack and Jill Drive In, she met John “Duane” Thatcher, on June 5th of 1949, they married, at Elk Point, South Dakota.  They lived in the Leeds area of Sioux City and were parents of five children.

She is remembered for her fantastic cinnamon rolls, homemade noodles for soup, fry cakes and her love of flowers.  She fondly recalled her days of playing 6 on 6 basketball in school and winning trophies at the bowling alley.  She spent many days working at the laundromat in Leeds the couple purchased in 1970.  She enjoyed sewing, including dolls and doll clothes. She always looked forward to spending time with family at their cabin on Lake Mazaska, Minnesota and to family reunions.

During retirement, she and Duane started a charity called Casa y Mas.    This charity allowed them to build 76 homes in Mexico and created endearing friendships with many there.  She and Duane thoroughly enjoyed taking their grandchildren on trips to Canada, California, Florida, Texas, day trips and attending sporting and musical events.   She greeted all with a hug and a kiss.  Helen was an active member of the Wesley Women’s Groups. She was a member of Siouxland Antique Car Club and enjoyed meetings and tours.

She is survived by her son, Charles (Mary) of Breda, Iowa, and daughter Sheryl (Greg) Cripps of Sioux City, 9 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and one more on the way, also in laws Ann Campbell, Joan (Bob) Stein and Jan Cutler.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2015, her son Mark in 1996 and two daughters Kayann Joan and Deborah Sue, in infancy.  Also preceding her were her parents, her brothers, John, Ray (Nellie) Smith and Eugene, her sisters Geneva (Carl) Taute, Bernetta (Ray) Stoos, Clara (Louis) Rogers, Dorothy (Gilbert) Larsen, and twins Rosella & Marcella Smith, also in laws Dick Campbell and Jim Cutler.

Memorials will be used for her favorite charities.