Obituary of Helen Ruth Converse

Helen Converse age 96 of Bennett, Colorado passed away Thursday, October 13, 2016 in Centennial, Colorado. She was born in Miles City, Montana on January 27, 1920 to Bernard and Grace Schlighting as the second of five children. When Helen was three years old, the growing family moved to Alamosa, CO and later to Del Norte where she graduated from high school in 1937 before earning a BS in Chemistry and minoring in Education at CU in Boulder. There she met and married a handsome Engineering student named Arthur Converse. The newlyweds worked and lived in several other states before returning to farm, ranch and raise four children near Bennett, CO. Helen joined the Bennett Baptist Church where the whole family attended faithfully. She sang in the choir, was active in the Ladies Missionary Society, and taught Sunday School and Jr. Church. She was invited to begin a Kindergarten in Strasburg where she taught for seven years. Later she served on the Bennett School Board, substitute taught in Byers, Strasburg and Bennett and occasionally tutored privately until the Bennett church opened a Christian Academy. Helen happily taught Kindergarten there for 11 years. She also held after school Bible clubs for grade school children through Child Evangelism Fellowship. Prior to most of her academic teaching, Helen's family was her top priority. With produce from her large garden, chickens, beef and dairy, they were always well fed. Helen sewed for the children, taught them and occasionally helped Arthur with the farm work. Helen and Arthur were happily married for 62 years! Helen is survived by three daughters, Leanne Converse of Haines, AK, Jeanie Storer of Coleman, S.D., Marilyn Henderson of Centennial, CO, a son, Bruce Converse of Bennett, CO, a sister, Jean Donovan of Eugene, OR, eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Clarence, Wilber and Barton, and her dear husband, Arthur. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the Bennett Baptist Church with the internment to follow at the Mount View Cemetery in Bennett, Colorado. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Gideon's International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214 - 0800 or Child Evangelism Fellowship, 5130 W. 80th Avenue, Westminster, Colorado 80030.