Helyn Thomas

Helyn J. Thomas
Helyn J. Thomas was born March 16, 1928, to Lee Roy Hart and Mary Augusta (Winnip) Hart in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Helyn went to be with her Savior on, May 9, 2011.
Helyn married Dale C. Thomas on August 29, 1948, in Medicine Lodge, KS, he survives. Also surviving are her son, Robert D. Thomas (Candace), daughter Jane M. Stewart (Michael), grandsons Mike Thomas (Debbie), Dirk Thomas, Jason Shove (Jolene), granddaughters Kari Struemph (Micheal), Cher Baker (Jeff) and great grandchildren (Mike/Debbie) Jessica Johnston, (Jason/Jolene) Ezra, Olivet, Ivy and Avangeline Shove, (Cher/Jeff) Meghan, Libby, Allison and Max Baker.
Helyn is also survived by her brother Paul Hart and sisters Mary Margaret Wilson, Hylon Weidner (twin sister) and Geneva Allerding. Helyn was pre-deceased by her sister Dorothy Kimball and her brother Allen Hart.
Helyn and Dale began their family on a farm in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Later Dale also owned a small grocery store in Medicine Lodge. Helyn and Dale moved their family to Oklahoma, and then to Manhattan, KS, where Dale attended and graduated from Manhattan Christian College. Their final move was to Topeka in 1961, where Helyn became a wonderful partner in Dale's ministry beginning at Central Avenue Christian Church. That church later relocated and became Northland Christian Church. Helyn was very proud of her role as the "minister's wife", and was a true partner in Dale's ministry, playing accompaniment on the piano and organ, singing in the choir, playing handbells, organizing and leading women's groups, teaching Sunday and Vacation Bible Schools. Helyn cooked and arranged many dinners, sat on committees and helped Dale lead several trips to the Holy Land. She and Dale also spent 2 months in India on a mission trip in 1985. They retired after 31 years of dedicated service to the Lord. The church they helped build started with 45 members at Central Avenue and at their retirement had a membership of 1,500 at Northland. Her gentle, loving spirit and graciousness will be remembered always by those who knew her.

Her home was abundantly rich in love and caring and she and her husband made their savior, Jesus Christ, the center focus of the family's life.

The family spent many fun-filled vacations and found time to go camping, fishing and hunting together at local Kansas lakes and also in Colorado. The annual trip to Gunnison to visit family (and go fishing) was always a highlight of the summer for many, many years.
Services will be held at Northland Christian Church, 3102 N. Topeka Blvd., at 2:00 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011. Interment will be at Rochester Cemetery, 1200 NW Menninger Rd. Helyn will lie in state after 3:00 pm Thursday, May 12, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, with visitation from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, May 12.
Memorials may be sent to the Helyn J. Thomas Memorial Fund c/o Kaw Valley Bank, 4848 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604. Helyn requested this memorial to be used to help purchase a handicapped/wheelchair van for her great-granddaughter.