Helen M. Keel

Helen Mae Forseyth Keel was born December 29, 1915 in Des Moines, Iowa to a very young mother. Her father served in Europe in the WWI and abandoned her and her mother when Helen was nine. She was baptized as an infant and was confirmed from Trinity Lutheran in Rockford, Illinois in 1929. The depression caused a move to Terril, Iowa for Helen, her mother and step-father. She attended Terril High School. Helen married Clifford Keel on February 16, 1933. Four children were born to them. Three succumbed to cystic fibrosis at early ages. Helen loved music, singing, dancing and always had great friendships with her neighbors wherever she lived. Helen and Cliff moved from their farm near Terril to Maywood in Milford in 1968. Here they could fish and entertain grandsons. In 1978, Clifford died. Helen moved to the Harbor in West Okoboji in 1990 and to Heritage Landing in 2003. During her widowed years, she spent many winters in Harlingen, Texas. She enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Arizona and Europe. She leaves her daughter, Collette and son-in-law, Galen Rozeboom; three grandsons, Steven R. Olson and Jill, Erik Jon Olson and Barbara and Mark Kendal Olson and Rosalie; seven great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and a dear sister-in-law, Marjorie Perkins. Preceding her in death were her children, Duane, William and Janet; step-father, Bert Hanners, mother, Mable Hanners husband, Clifford Keel and her son-in-law, Don Olson.