Helen Gillette

Helen M. Gillette, 90, of McPherson and formerly of Wessington Springs, South Dakota, died Saturday, May 27, 2006, at Alterra Sterling House, McPherson, Kansas. She was born May 6, 1916, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Theodore Lorenz and Ella (Sykes) Halbritter. She graduated with the class of 1933 from the Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD. On September 9, 1939, she married Clayton Eugene Gillette at Sioux Falls, SD. He died November 24, 1993.

Helen was a member of the Free Methodist Church in Wessington Springs, SD, serving as the church organist for 40 years and church treasurer for 18 years. She was active in the Women's Missionary Society.

Her survivors include: her son, Gaylord Gillette of McPherson, KS; her daughters, Marilyn Odermann of McPherson, KS, Rosalie Jeffery of Newberg, OR, and Eloise Gillette of Salina, KS; two brothers, Wesley Halbritter & Kenneth Halbritter, both of Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clayton Eugene Gillette, and by two brothers, Theodore Halbritter and John Halbritter.

Funeral service will be Saturday, June 3, 2006, at 10:30 AM at the Free Methodist Church in Wessington Springs, South Dakota with the Rev. Don Grubb and David Jeffery presiding. Burial will be at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs, SD. Visitation with the family present will take place at 9:30 AM until service time on Saturday, June 3, 2006, at the Free Methodist Church in Wessington Springs, SD.

Memorial donations may be given to Central Christian College of Kansas (McPherson, KS) or the Free Methodist Child Care Ministries.

Stockham Family Funeral Home (McPherson, KS)is in charge of local arrangements and Basham Funeral Service (Wessington Springs, SD) is charge of services in South Dakota. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Helen Gillette please visit our Sympathy Store.