Kearney resident, 92

FRESNO, Calif. - Helen M. Haase Frazer, 92, of Kearney, Neb., died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Fresno.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Kearney with the Rev. Stan Murdoch officiating.
Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements.

She was born Sept. 16, 1920, on a farm near Amherst to John and Grace (Davis) Haase.

On Aug. 3, 1940, she married Ellis Frazer. He preceded her in death.

In 2004, she married Jack W. Smith.

Survivors include her son, Greg Frazer and his wife, Karen, of Clovis, Calif.; daughters, Candace Wilken of Franklin, Tenn., and Pamela Lawrence and her husband, David, of Fort Pierce, Fla.; former daughter-in-law, Alix Frazer; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. While married to Jack, her extended family included four sons and five grandchildren.

In 1926, her family moved to Kearney where she attended school. She graduated in 1937 and then attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney for a short time. Helen was employed as secretary to Guy Henninger, the county attorney at the time, and relocated to Lincoln with him when he became the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard. She married Ellis after returning to Kearney.

Helen worked for U.S. Engineers during the Air Base construction. She then transferred to base headquarters as secretary to the commanding officer and adjutant. She retired in 1946 to Kearney where she and Ellis raised two sons and two daughters. Helen and Ellis moved to Summer Haven Lake, south of Kearney, where they enjoyed time with their family after Ellis' retirement. She and Jack were together for nine years.

She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where she served as president of ABWM and president of Circles. She also served as a church clerk for nine years. She was a member of the Trustees Board, Deaconess Board, Memorial Committee, Building Finance Committee and choir, and was a Sunday school teacher. Helen also was active in the community and volunteered for the American Red Cross and Hospice.

She was a member of the Senior Bowling League and Buffalo Ridge Ladies Golf Association and was a senior center volunteer. Her hobbies included golf, bowling, various card games and reading.

In addition to her husband, Ellis, she was preceded in death by her son, Larry Frazer.

Published in Kearney Hub on August 7, 2013