Obituary of Helen Barker

Helen Viola Barker, 95, of Lincoln, died peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Born on September 7, 1918 in Winner, South Dakota to Melchior and Anna (Hansen) Christensen. She grew up in Iowa and Minnesota, one of eleven children. She felt privileged to be able to attend Oak Park Academy in Iowa. Her dad paid the first $25.00, and she worked her way through paying the rest of her expenses. She felt that the opportunity changed the course of her life in a positive way. She attended Union College in Lincoln where she met Merle Barker, and they were married April 13, 1940. They moved to Jaroso, Colorado and began farming near Merle's family. In 1944 they moved to Iowa to farm near Helen's family, and then in 1953 they purchased their first farm in Mindenmines , Missouri. By this time they had four children, Keith, Kip, Carol and Ted. Farming in Mindenmines became their life for the next 24 years. Helen's life revolved around family, cooking, and baking bread, Danishes, and doughnuts. Enjoying her grandchildren, and being a major part of their life was very important to her and Merle. She had a passion for children and led the local Pathfinder Club camping for 25 years, attending many a camporee. They retired from farming and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1977 until 1995, when Merle's health failed. Helen's greatest talent was serving others with hospitality! In Kansas City their house was known as the Barker Hotel, a center for entertainment for so many friends and family, especially the grandkids. After Merle's death in 1998, Helen moved to Gering, Nebraska to be near her daughter, Carol Huenergardt and family. She enjoyed her home there, and again was involved in entertaining friends, and involved in her church until 2012 when her health began to fail, she moved to Lincoln, near family again. Helen will be remembered most for her love of Jesus and her church, her baked breads, doughnuts, and her hospitality. She loved to play Mexican Train with her special friends, Grace and Lou Ann, Phyllis and Evelyn several nights a week. She is survived by her children, Keith, Carol (Darrel) Huenergardt, Ted, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Merle, and son Kip. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4801 Prescott Ave. Graveside Service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2014 at Barton City Cemetery, near Liberal, Missouri. Memorials to Union College, 3800 South 48th, Lincoln, NE 68510. Visitation: 2-7 p.m. Tuesday with family greeting friends from 5-7 at Roper and Sons, 4300 'O' St. Condolences online at Roperandsons.com.