Visitation for Helen Westfall will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Graettinger, Iowa. Funeral services will follow.
Interment is at Lost Island Lutheran Cemetery in Ruthven, Iowa.
Helen Jean Westfall, daughter of Jorgen and Elva (Halverson) Paulsen, was born March 17, 1934 in Graettinger, Iowa. She received her education in Graettinger, graduating from Graettinger High School in 1951.
On December 12, 1952 Helen was united in marriage to Virgil Westfall at First Lutheran Church in Graettinger. They were blessed with two daughters, Connie and Lisa. Virgil and Helen made their home in Kansas, later moving to California where they raised their family.
Helen was a faithful and devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She was employed as a bank teller at Bank of America and later taught preschool at St. Andrew’s Lutheran School.
Helen and Virgil enjoyed attending dance and going to Lawrence Welk shows. After retiring, Helen spent half of the year in Iowa and half of the year in California for over 35 years. Helen loved socializing and spending time with family and friends. She was always ready to go out for a BV and 7 and loved going to Side Street for pizza with friends. Helen and Virgil enjoyed their C.B. Radio Club and were long time members of Boxcar Bums. Their den was always filled with parties.
Helen was particularly good at bargain hunting. Never an auction, yard sale or store clearance was missed by Helen. Filling up her houses was an avid pastime. There was never an aluminum can that didn’t get picked up by Helen. She played a big part in all of the activities at the Ruthven Community Care Center, often being in the newspaper or in a Bank Plus advertisement.
Helen passed away Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Ruthven Community Care Center at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jorgen and Elva Paulsen; her husband, Virgil; daughter, Lisa Westfall; granddaughter, Randi Neaville; siblings, Bonnie Harrelson, Delores Rickert, Pete Paulsen and Carol Russell; nieces, Paula LaMont and Jeanne Fread; nephews, Bobby Paulsen, Kirk Rickert and Jimmie Schoning.
She is survived by her daughter, Connie Balloue of LaMirada, California; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, JoAnn and Jim Schoning of Ruthven, Iowa; niece, Julie Schoning of Ruthven, Iowa; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com
