Obituary of Helen Besch

Helen Adele (Higley) Besch was born May 19, 1920 in Fenton, Iowa to Harvey and Katherine (Gappa) Higley. She attended a country school near her home and Presentation Academy in Whittemore, Iowa, graduating in 1937. Helen married James H. Besch on February 19, 1941 and lived on the Besch family farm until 1978 when they moved into the town of Whittemore. Helen worked on the farm until her four children graduated from high school. She then started work for Dr. Capesius and Dr. Lensing at their Veterinarian Clinic in Whittemore, retiring in 1982. Helen enjoyed music, dancing, playing cards and gardening, but most of all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Her husband, Jim, passed away February 4, 1991. Helen moved to Spirit Lake in 2001 to be near her daughter and family after major surgery. In 2003, Helen married Marvin Odegaard. They spent winters in Texas and Arizona and summers in Spirit Lake. Marvin passed away February 9, 2011. Helen was also preceded in death by her daughter, Betty Kollasch, grandson Nicholas Kollasch, her parents, her brothers and her sisters. Helen was a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake and passed away March 25, 2012 at Lakes Regional Hospital, Spirit Lake, Iowa at the age of 91. Helen is survived by her children, Bob (Carol) Besch, McKinney, Texas, Bev (Denny) Sill, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Mary (Paul) Romberg, Rochester, Minnesota and David Kollasch, son-in-law, Spirit Lake, Iowa; grandchildren, Mary Pat (Abe) Owen, Carrie (Chad) O'Neal, Jim (Lisa) Besch, Matthew (Kate) Besch, Gina (Brian) Cerny, Christopher (Amy) Sill and Ben Romberg; Great-Grandchildren, Collin, Megan and Payton Owen, Stephen and Emily O'Neal, Jack Besch, Paige and Chaz Dean, Ciera Cerny, Marissa and Logan Sill; sister-in-laws, Ida Besch, Jeannie Higley and Lorraine Higley. She is also survived by Marvin's children, Irene (Ray) Gold, Diane (Ken) VanWyk, Kathy (Dave) Wickett, Mel (Shirley) Odegaard, Pam (Dennis Wilson) Jenkins, Joyce (Wayne) Beebout, Jeff (Dawn) Odegaard and their families. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.