Emma Helm

Emma Helm, 97, Mandan, died July 11, 2009, at the Medcenter One Mandan Living Center. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, August 8, 2009, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Steve Johnson officiating. Family will be greeting friends and relatives from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, August 7, 2009, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Emma Lorenz was born in Dunn County on June 12, 1912, the daughter of William A. and Sophia Ochsner Lorenz. They later moved to Mercer County where she attended school. Her mother passed away when she was four, and her father then married Rose McGrath; Rose had two children and was a wonderful stepmother. Emma married Emanuel Helm in a little Baptist Church in Zap, ND. They farmed for one year and then moved to a coal mining camp near Zap. After ten years, they moved around to several towns and owned their own coal mine. They were transferred to Bismarck in 1952 and retired there. Emma and Emanuel were members of the Bismarck Baptist Church, where she spent many hours teaching Sunday School and Bible School; she was president of the women’s group and also helped with anything she could do in the Lord’s work. She loved gardening, and taking care of her grandchildren and their friends, and later her great grandchildren. She was one of the first women to learn to drive and became a taxi for those who couldn’t drive. Emma is survived by her daughter, Myrna Petermann; granddaughters, Julie Petermann Bryant Michael, Carlynn Petermann Turner Scott and her three children, Carly, Scott and Dacotah; two stepgranddaughters, Olive and Jessica Bryant; and one great-great grandson, Patrick, Bryant Ward; two sisters-in-law, Katherine and Ruth, and one brother-in-law, Jack Helm, all of Beulah, ND. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emanuel; parents; her stepmother; her brother, Fred Ida; her step brother and sister, Lawrence McGrath and Frances Roesler; her son-in-law, Carl Petermann; her grandson-in-law, Scott Turner; and an infant sister and an infant grandson. Emma loved planting flowers, but asked that instead of buying flowers you give that money to a church project, or to a children’s fund for the poor and homeless. She saved every penny she could to donate to these programs.

Emma Helm

June 12, 1912 - July 11, 2009