Helen Rohde, age 88 of Lake View, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City, IA. Helen Irene was born on May 12, 1933, to Lester and Millie (Hunziker) Westrom in Lake View. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. She lived on the family farm homesteaded by her great grandfather Peter Westrom and the farm owned by her grandfather Oscar Westrom west of Lake View her whole life. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Lake View High School in 1951.
On July 22, 1951, she married her confirmation classmate Marvin Rohde of Wall Lake at Peace Lutheran Church, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2021. During the early years of their marriage, Helen worked for Vince O’Brien at Armstrong Popcorn Company in Lake View. Upon Marvin’s return from service in Korea in 1954, they began farming the family farm together and welcomed sons Allen and Derek and daughter Julia. Helen was an avid gardener, with flower beds around farm buildings and a vegetable garden. She spent many hours canning and freezing and sharing the bounty with her children and grandchildren. Helen was an expert seamstress, making clothes for herself, the children, and grandchildren. She also enjoyed embroidery, playing the piano, baking, and reading. Helen was a long-time member of the Peace Lutheran Ladies Aid and served on the Altar Guild. She served on the board of the Lake View Historical Society for many years. Marvin and Helen traveled to Canada and South Dakota often to go fishing. She loved to travel to watch the grandchildren participate in their school and sports activities.
Helen is survived by her husband Marvin, son Allen (Karen) Rohde of Norman, OK, son Derek (Carol) Rohde of Lake View, and daughter Julia (Stephen)Souther of Lake View; grandchildren Tara (Bryan) Andersen, Traci Rohde Lewis (fiancé Clayton Gunter), Greg (Jenny) Rohde, Angela (Jake) Gillen, Mikayla (Mike) Hoppenthaler, and Casey (Bre) Branning; great-grandchildren Cora Andersen, Levi and Landri Lewis, Declan and Calihan Rohde, Clara, Gabrielle, and Xavier Gillen; brother Loren Westrom; sisters-in-law Berneta Carstensen, Cecelia Rohde, and Ardell Rohde, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law William and Jennie Rohde, brother Allen Westrom, infant son Richard Rohde, brothers, and sisters-in-law Marilyn Westrom, Melvin and Orlean Dozark, Howard and Dorothy Subbert, Wilbert Rohde, Donald Aschinger, Wally Carstensen, Duane Rohde, Lester and Wynona Rohde, Roma Jean and Francis Blum.
