Fern Marie Helmuth, 91, of Arthur, died at 1:11 AM Sunday, April 19, 2009 at the Arthur Home

There will be a family graveside service at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at the Arthur Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday at the Arthur Mennonite Church, 710 E. Park, Arthur, with Rev. Glen Rhodes officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at the Arthur Mennonite Church. Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, is in charge of arrangements.

Fern was born February 27, 1918 at Goodfield, Illinois, the daughter of Daniel A. and Katie (Birkey) Zehr. She married Orva S. Helmuth on November 20, 1938 in Fisher; they moved to a farm at Arthur.

Surviving are her husband, Orva, of Arthur; one daughter, Elizabeth (Alvin) Schulz of Madison, Wisconsin; three sons, Harold (Esther) Helmuth of Arthur, Maurice (Jean) Helmuth of Mt. Zion; Omar (Priscilla) Helmuth of Elkhart, Indiana; 10 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and one brother, Wilmer (Evelyn) Zehr of Champaign. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and two brothers.

Fern and her husband were charter members of the Arthur Mennonite Church, where they were very involved in many areas of their life. She was also busy as a housewife with gardening, canning, and sewing.

In 1949, they helped out with a small Sunday School outreach program near Sullivan for a year. In 1970, they served a 1 1/4 -year term of Voluntary Service at a small chapel in Aspen, Colorado. In 1976, they served a 6-month term of Voluntary Service at a training school for Indian pastors in Tempe, Arizona; and again in 1983 for a short term.

Memorials are suggested to the Arthur Mennonite Church.

Condolences to the family may be sent to hilligossshraderfh.com.