A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday January 4, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. Pastor Ed Hannahs will be officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation one hour prior to the service, also at the church. Helen will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the care of Helen and her family.

Born Helen Louise Ludlow, May 16th, 1928, in a rural home just west of Gilman, Iowa. She was the daughter of Maurice and Barbara Ludlow. Helen grew up as an only child on a farm just southwest of Gilman. She attended school in Gilman and graduated with the class of 1946. Along with the usual farm chores, she watched and helped her mother host large meals for threshing crews and farm laborers. These hosting skills proved to be valuable to her later on in life.

Her early years at home on the farm she admitted were lonely. That changed when she went to a sledding party at her cousin's farm and met Clair Long. The affection they shared was immediate, and they dated until Clair returned from a two-year stint in China with the Navy. Clair brought home some Chinese silk for her to make her own wedding dress. They were married on January 12th, 1949, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Marshalltown.

They moved to the home farm in 1951 where they worked together farming and raising their two daughters, Linda and Lorraine. Helen spent countless, tireless and thankless hours working in her garden, canning, sewing and keeping her home orderly. With what time she had left, she found great joy in tending to her beautiful and vibrant flowers.

Helen was a wonderful host and regularly opened her home to family and friends. She seemed to effortlessly prepare a genuine feast, and if you left hungry or without trying something new, that was your mistake! Her table was a special place and if you had a seat at it, you felt a warmth and loving kindness that seemed exclusive to her home.

Helen was a sweet, patient teacher. Her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids all benefited from her vast wisdom and skills. She left us with an image of a strong woman who smiled often, hugged firmly, always served others first, and never for a second wavered in her faith and devotion to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Left to cherish her memory and continue her legacy of love are her children, Linda (David) Stonewall of Gilman and Lorraine (Ron) Crow of Marshalltown; her grandchildren Kelsy (Mario) Orelus, Kendra Crow, Ethan (Maria) Crow and Jacklin Stonewall; great grandchildren: Darick, Anaya, Zayla, Mercy, Emilia, Colby and Gentry.

In eternal life, Helen is reunited with Clair, her infant son Mark, two great-grandchildren, and her parents.

Lovingly written by her family.