Edna Helmuth

Edna L Helmuth, 97, of Harrisonburg, Virginia (formerly of Arthur, IL) passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2019 (two days before her 98th birthday) at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, where she was a resident for the past nine years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Arthur Mennonite Church, 710 East Park Street, Arthur, IL, officiated by Rev. Firman Gingerich and Rev. Glen Rhodes.  Burial service will follow at the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M at the Arthur Mennonite Church in Arthur, IL. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

She was born on August 26, 1921 in Arthur, IL to Levi A and Anna (Yoder) Miller and attended the Yoder School near Arthur, IL. On December 16, 1943, she married Noah B Helmuth.  In December 2018 they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Noah survives, along with her four sons, Andrew N (Joan) Helmuth of Arthur, IL, Ervin N Helmuth of Sarasota, FL, Phillip N (Loretta) Helmuth of Harrisonburg, VA and Leslie N (Sylvia) Helmuth of Harrisonburg, VA; a daughter, Susanna (Richard) Plank of Goshen, IN; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Levi A and Anna Miller, five sisters and brothers-in-law; Lizzie (David) Herschberger, Susana (Joseph) Yoder, Katie (Menno) Yoder, Anna (Omar) Yoder and Saloma Plank; and a grandson, Michael Chad Helmuth.

Edna was a stay-at-home mom through their early years of marriage and helped her husband on the dairy farm.  In 1965, she became the bookkeeper at M&H Equipment, which became Helmuth Implement in 1966 when Noah and Edna bought out another business partner. With an already full life, in 1972 Noah and Edna began their involvement with Chicago Community Chapel.  When Noah became the pastor, Edna found many ways to be supportive including teaching Sunday School and hosting family, friends and guests in their home.  Their pastoral journeys also took them to Cazenovia Mennonite Church (Cazenovia, IL), Roanoke Mennonite Church (Roanoke, IL), East Peoria Mennonite Church (East Peoria, IL), East Union Mennonite Church (Kalona, IA), and Stuarts Draft Mennonite Church (Stuarts Draft, VA).  Edna also served as the first manager of SelfHelp Village Crafts in Champaign, Illinois for five years.

In 2002 Edna and Noah retired and moved to Harrisonburg, VA to live closer to family. She was a member of the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.

A memorial service will be held in Detweiler Auditorium at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, VA on Sunday, September 1 at 4:30 PM with Eric Martin and Craig Maven officiating.