Helen Elizabeth Cross

Arapahoe, Nebraska Helen Elizabeth Cross, age 101, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away Saturday, February 7, 2014 at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Society of Arapahoe, Nebraska. She was born on October 10, 1912 on a farm northeast of Edison, Nebraska to Thomas E. & Nora A. (Sanderson) Hays. She was the third of seven children: Agnes, Christine, Hazel, Alice, Thomas, & Patricia. As an infant, Helen was baptized at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Oxford, Nebraska. She also received First Communion and Confirmation. In 1986 she was baptized in the Christian Church in Edison, Nebraska. She was active with the Church activities, Ladies Aid and fellowship dinners. When she moved to Arapahoe, Nebraska in October 1996, she transferred her membership to the Church of Christ. Helen’s education began in a country school known as the Girch School on Turkey Creek north of Edison. In the spring of 1919, the family moved closer to Edison, known as the Draper farm, to be closer to school. Helen attended all grades until the middle of her 12th grade when on February 23, 1930 she was married to Earl William Cross of Edison, Nebraska at North Platte, Nebraska. They lived on the family farm. To this union four children were born: Vaughn Earl, Thomas Macie, twins Sharon Naoma and Sharol Ramona. In March 1946, they moved to a farm northeast of Edison. On March 8, 1953, Earl was killed in a one vehicle accident. With the boys away from home in the service of their country, Helen and the twins moved to Edison, Nebraska. In May of 1953 Helen started working at the Swanson’s Poultry Plant in Oxford, Nebraska until it closed down in March of 1957. Helen moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in March of 1957to further her education in civil service. With urging of her mother, Helen contacted the superintendent of schools and arranged night classes in business and she earned her High School diploma graduating with the Class of 1957 in Edison, Nebraska but before her graduation in May, a dentist called hearing of her and asked Helen to work for him. She accepted and her education began in a different route. Helen became a member of the Lincoln Dental Assistants Association and Nebraska Dental Assistants Association meeting yearly and also attended many workshops for continuing education. Helen was certified as a dental assistant in June of 1958. She held the offices of recording secretary, vice president, and president in the associations. In 1977 she was reelected president but resigned due to retirement plans. During the years she won two dental demonstrations at the Nebraska conventions. Helen attended four national conventions in Las Vegas, Nevada, Miami, Florida, Dallas, Texas, & Washington, D.C. Helen retired after working for the same dentist for 20 ½ years and moved back to Edison, Nebraska where she enjoyed gardening, yard work, and renewing friendships. She was a member of the Edison American Legion Auxiliary from 1953 until 1957 in which she served as president. In returning to Edison, Helen transferred to Oxford Auxiliary and was recording secretary for District 9. She was a member of Edison Market Days and she sold crafts and baked goods. Helen’s specialty was cinnamon rolls that were baked by order for Oxford Café’, Oxford Sale Barn, Arapahoe functions and Arapahoe School functions. At the Market she also sold bread and candies. Piece quilts and quilting was a big pleasure! The first quilt Helen sold went to California. Then others to New Jersey, Hawaii, Germany, and to Oxford, Nebraska then to Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota and many other places. Due to failing eye sight she moved to Sunshine Village in Arapahoe, Nebraska on October 1, 1996 where she continued piecing quilts and quilting at home and at the Arapahoe Senior Center. She was a life member of the Black Hills Quilters Guild of Rapid City, South Dakota when it became organized in 1976. She also was a life member of the Friendship Quilters Guild of Holbrook, Cambridge, and Arapahoe. On July 13, 1997 Helen celebrated her 90th birthday with her family and she gave 15 quilts away to her four children, ten grandchildren, and one great grandson, all finished and made while living in Arapahoe. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl William, brother Thomas Hays, sisters Agnes and husbands Murvan Fisher and Marshall Fisher, Christine and husband Leo McDonald and Alice and husband Thaddeus Watts. Brothers-In-Law Leo Cross and Wilford Dold, sisters-in-law Hazel Cross Hemelstrand Smith, and Alberta Cross, Daughters-in-law Dolores Cross, Delores Gardels Hays & Lila Mae Cross. She is survived by her sons Vaughn Earl Cross of Pinedale, Wyoming Thomas Macie of Cheyenne, Wyoming Twin Daughters: Sharon Naoma & husband Eugene Flueckinger of Manitowoc, Wisconsin Sharol Ramona Cross of Lincoln, Nebraska Grandchildren: 10 Great Grandchildren: 23 Great-Great Grandchildren: 6 Sisters: Hazel Cross of Arapahoe, Nebraska & Patricia Dold of Chaney, Kansas special friend: Opal Coakley of Arapahoe, Nebraska Condolences or personal reflections can be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com Viewing and visitation will be Friday, February 14, 2014 from 10 AM till 8 PM at Wenburg Funeral Home, Arapahoe, Nebraska and prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2 PM at the Arapahoe Christian Church, in Arapahoe, Nebraska with Pastor David Welch, officiating. Interment will be at Arapahoe Cemetery at Arapahoe, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to Asera Care Hospice. Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.