Helen Brehmer

Helen Brehmer moved on to her heavenly home with her Savior Jesus in the early morning on Tuesday, Dec. 24th at her residence at Oakwood Assisted Living in Stephenville, TX, surrounded by her son and daughter. Funeral services will be at Faith Lutheran Church of Stephenville, Friday, Dec. 27 @ 11:00am. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday at Stephenville Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery near Storm Lake, IA following a service at Fretzky and Jensen Funeral Home of Storm Lake, IA at 1:00pm. She was born Helen Minnie Stief in Aurelia, Iowa on January 21, 1925. She grew up on a farm outside of Aurelia and was baptized, confirmed, and married at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, a rural country church. She was united in marriage to Raymond Herman Brehmer of Peterson, Iowa on February 6, 1946. They resided in Storm Lake, Iowa; Cherokee, Iowa; Watertown, South Dakota; and finally settled in Lakewood, California in 1962. Helen always cherished her Iowa roots, in addition to singing, dancing, and baking special treats for her family and friends. Helen worked at Boeing Aircraft in Long Beach, California for 18 years. Throughout her life, she dearly loved dancing and music and was a member of square dancing clubs wherever she lived. She was a devoted and enthusiastic member of Bethany Lutheran Church and the adult choir for 46 years. At the church, she was also a member of LWML , the Chancel Circle, the Braille group, and the Chimers group. Her smile and baked goods were always enjoyed by everyone. After the sudden death of her husband, Raymond Dec. 10, 1972, she continued working and serving. In 1980 she met Floyd Olson through Boeing and found that he loved square dancing, too. Their friendship for nearly 30 years included square dancing, line dancing, concerts in the park, shared family gatherings, a variety of activities and volunteering at their churches and in the community. They delivered Meals on Wheels for 15 years. In 2008, Helen moved to Stephenville, Texas and settled in her apartment at Oakwood Assisted Living very near her daughter, Cheryl. In Stephenville Helen was an active and faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church where she participated in LWML and SAIL and adult Bible class, attending the many activities with her daughter Cheryl and her husband, Tom. Helen and Ray were blessed with two children. Cheryl Rae was born in Storm Lake, Iowa in 1951. Danny Ray was born in Cherokee, Iowa in 1956. Helen is survived by a sister, Darlene Nelson of Aurelia, IA; sister, Shirley Walker of Waverly, IA; brother, Chuck Stief and wife Verda of Ankeny, IA; her daughter, Cheryl and husband Tom Konz of Stephenville, TX; son, Danny and wife Gina Brehmer of Santa Ana, California. She has five grandchildren: Bethany Konz of Madison, Wisconsin; Mary Konz Schoenherr and husband Michael of Madison, Wisconsin; Paul Konz of Chicago, Ill; Matthew Brehmer and wife Jamie of Anaheim, CA; Megan Brehmer Moon and husband Kenny of Anaheim, CA. She has six great-grandchildren: Audrey Beth, Carson Alan, and Jillian Rae Schoenherr of Madison, WI; Coen Trae, Lincoln Shae, and Sadie Rae Brehmer of Anaheim, CA; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Herman Brehmer; parents John and Alma Stief; brother Robert Stief; and dear friend Floyd Olsen of Long Beach, CA. Helen will be dearly missed by her loving family and friends and all of her neighbors and staff of Oakwood Assisted Living. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Lutheran Braille Society or Faith Lutheran Church, 2000 NW Loop, Stephenville, Texas 76401.