DELAVAN - Helen L. Wertsch, 96, of 26555 Boynton Road, Delavan, passed away at 4 a.m. Sunday, March 24, 2013, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

She was born March 17, 1917, in St. Albans Township, West Point, Ill., to George and Nevada Hinkle Bettisworth. She married Alan Wertsch on Dec. 31, 1941, in West Point. He passed away Nov. 21, 2005.

Surviving are one daughter, Suzanne (Peter) Faulkner of Delavan; two grandchildren, James Michael Faulkner of Easley, S.C., and Casey Alan (Jennifer) Faulkner of Peoria; five great-grandchildren, Kendrick, Jensson, Chandler and Simeon Faulkner of Peoria and Ethan Faulkner of Easley, S.C.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by one son, Michael Wertsch in 1967; five brothers, Alonzo, Ernest, Robert, Maurice and Donald; and three sisters, Mildred Simmons, Marguerite Bettisworth and Martha Felgar.

Helen graduated from Carthage High School in 1934, and from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Peoria in 1938 as a registered nurse.

She worked as a staff nurse, clinical instructor and assistant nursing arts instructor at Methodist Hospital in Peoria. She was a staff nurse at Las Campamas Hospital in Compton, Calif., and St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, Calif., and last worked at Hopedale Hospital in Hopedale as Supervisor of Nursing Surgical Services. Helen served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during W.W. II as a 1st lieutenant, where she worked at Station Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., Camp Kilmer in N.J., and 262nd General Hospital in Fort Clayton, Panama.

She was a former member of the Christian Church in West Point. She was a member of Delavan United Methodist Church and the church's United Methodist Women, Methodist Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Society, and served on the administrative board at Hopedale Medical Complex.

Helen loved to host dinners and enjoyed the company of family and friends. She enjoyed true conversation and was genuinely interested in how everyone was doing. She made the world's best angel food cake and brought one to every birthday party she attended. She also had a great thirst for knowledge and could have a conversation with you about anything.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Delavan United Methodist Church. Pastor Larry Moreau will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Davis Mortuary in Delavan. Burial will be in Prairie Rest Cemetery in Delavan, with military honors provided by Delavan American Legion Post 382.

Memorials may be made to Delavan United Methodist Women or to the charity of your choice .

To express condolences online visit www.davis-mortuaryinc.com.

Published in Peoria Journal Star on March 27, 2013