Helen Louise (Thomas) Heberlein was born in Mildred, CO April 12, 1924 to John Monroe Thomas and Lillian Celeste (Morris) Thomas at their family homestead northeast of Joes, in Yuma Country, Colorado. Helen departed this life on December 20, 2019 in Brush Colorado at the age of 95 years and 8 months. Helen Louise is the last surviving child of 18 brothers and sisters.

Growing up Yuma County on a farm and ranch, Helen learned to do most anything and could problem solve how to use anything to make it work or last longer. Like many homesteading families, she grew up in an adobe house with a hard-compacted dirt floor. They would burn cow chips as fuel in their stoves to cook and heat their home. She spoke of how her dad would cut ice from a nearby river to keep food cold or hang a barrel of food inside a barrel of water in the barn to do the same thing. Helen and her siblings were hard workers, and expected to help provide for their family as life on the high plains demanded the most of everyone to survive in the early days.

Helen often told stories of driving automobiles at an early age, and could fix about anything on them. She loved her cars, and spoke of them even in her final days. One of her favorite questions to ask her grandchildren is if they changed their oil, and if they needed her to help them. She was also never to be without her tire pressure gage in her purse. And you could expect if you were on a road trip with her, the tire pressure would be checked at every stop.

She moved to Washington County and married Charles D. Smelser Sr. in the early 1940's where they ran the Lindon Mercantile & Gas Station, Cabins and Dancehall.  To this union she had three children, Shirley A., Charles D. Jr. and Marjie E.  After the death of Charles D. Sr.; she moved to Wray, Colorado to take care of her Mother Lillie. Helen married Bill Adolf on August 5, 1950, and to this union four children were born:  William Darrel , Connie S, John A., and Dennis L.  Mr. & Mrs. Adolf farmed and ranched around the Kit Carson area. Then, Helen married Louis Heberlein on March 15, 1960 and from this union they had Merry (Mary) E. and Patty L.. Helen and Louis continued to farm and ranch until moving to town in Akron. For more than 40 years Helen made Akron her home, until she moved to the assisted living center at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush, Colorado at age 90. At Eben Ezer, Helen was well cared for and deeply enjoyed her many her friends & family, often causing much laughter with her quick wit and spunk.

Helen had a generous spirit, and in her many years of life she was always looking after others and making sure they were ok. She loved spending time with her family more than anything, and especially loved all children.  Helen was still "going to make" cookies, cakes and quilts for people up until her last days.

Helen loved cooking homecooked meals for her family and others, and there was always an extra plate of food and anyone was welcome at her home. Everyone had a favorite food that Helen made, but her grandchildren especially hold the memory of her fried chicken as an all-time favorite. Helen was an excellent seamstress. She made everything by hand, often making clothing without patterns. Over the years she made many quilts with love from fabric scraps for her family and friends. Helen was also an avid gardener and deeply loved her birds.

Survivors include her children: Shirley Wise (Bob Bruce) of AZ; Marjie (Gene) Hottinger of Akron; Darrel (Patty) Adolf of Greeley; Connie (Tarry) Cluff of Brush; Merry Heberlein (Bob Thornton, Deceased) of University Place, WA; and Patty Heberlein (Geroge Meacham) of Evans; 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husbands: Charlie Smelser, Bill Adolf, and Louis J. Heberlein; 3 children: Charles D. Smelser Jr., John Andrew Adolf, and Dennis Lee Adolf; 1 grandchild: Joseph Smelser; 17 brothers & sisters, and her parents.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 1:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brush, Colorado. Concluding service, interment followed at the Akron Cemetery. Friends who wish, may make memorial gifts to The Children's Hospital in Aurora, CO co/ The Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron St., Brush, CO 80723.