Helen R. Berney

Helen R. Berney, 93, died Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the Washington County Hospital, Washington. A graveside funeral service was 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 24, at the Morrowville Cemetery, Morrowville. Pastor Jim Stark officiated. "Peace in the Valley" and "How Great Thou Art" were played. Helen was born to Earl and Vinnie (Palmer) Woods on August 12, 1924 in Mahaska, KS. She grew up in Washington County and was fortunate enough to complete the 8th grade from the Washington County Schools in June of 1939. Helen was united in marriage to Virgil Vernon Berney on July 16, 1942. This union was blessed with three children – Vernon Eugene, Virgil LeRoy and Virginia Ruth. Helen was confirmed in Christ at the First Baptist Church in Washington in October of 1965. Helen lived her life caring for and serving others. She helped raise her younger siblings then became a homemaker and took care of her own husband and children. She had to finishing raising her teenage daughter as a single mother after her husband passed away in 1967. She did this while working as a housekeeper for others and also worked at the Centennial Homestead doing laundry for the residents. Helen was the caregiver for her mother in her later years. In her free time, Helen enjoyed quilting and embroidering. Rarely could you enter Helen’s home and not be met by a quilt rack in the living room, oftentimes times stretching from corner to corner. She had an extensive collection of tea cups and baby dolls and enjoyed the holidays – looking forward to decorating her home for every one of them. She enjoyed going to garage sales, which is where you could most often find her on Saturday mornings, and where she often found the cups, dolls and decorations to add to her collection. Helen’s family was her pride and joy and she was blessed with 3 granddaughters, 2 great-granddaughters and 5 great-grandsons, 2 great-great granddaughters and 3 great-great grandsons and 2 more great-great grandchildren on the way. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, 9 siblings, her husband and two children. Survivors include sister Lucille Zabokrtsky, son Virgil (Marilee) of Lincoln, NE, granddaughter Michele (Steve) Nutsch of Riley, KS, granddaughter Marcela Brown of Hutchinson, KS, granddaughter Christina (Timothy) Driggs of Phillipsburg, KS and all her great and great-great grandchildren aforementioned. Helen spent the last two and a half years of her long life living at the Centennial Homestead. She thoroughly enjoyed her time there and would be the first to tell you how well taken care of she was and how loved she felt by all of the wonderful staff. The family ask that in lieu of flowers and memorial contributions be made in Helen’s honor to the Centennial Homestead through the care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen R. Berney, please visit our flower store.