Helen Goodman

Helen Joy (Berney) Goodman passed away, unexpectedly, on April 12, 2016. Her passing was exactly 29 days after her beloved husband and best friend, Dean. Her memorial service will be Monday, May 16, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Helen was born in Spalding, Nebraska on May 16, 1925. She was raised by her Grandma Crouch. After her grandma passed away, she lived with her favorite Aunt Freda. Helens cousins, Bugs and Ed, lovingly teased and rough housed with her. Helen said they prepared her for raising her own children. Helens sister, Peggy, was born three years after Helen. Her brother, Melvin, was fourteen years younger, and the youngest brother, Don, was seventeen years younger than Helen. She adored her brothers and called them her little pets. After Dean and Helen were married, her brothers would often take the Omaha cross-town city bus to visit Dean and Helen. Helen always had a strong bond with her brothers and was excited when they and their families visited her in Montana. Helen graduated from South High School in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the same high school where Dean had graduated four years earlier. After high school, Helen worked at several factory jobs. A couple of those jobs lasted one day, as Helen soon learned that type of work was not her cup of tea. Helen proudly went to work for Boys Town as a secretary. She was lucky enough to work there while Father Flanagan was still active on campus. Helen also worked for the upscale Hotel Fontenelle in downtown Omaha as a desk clerk. The hotel was the center of Omaha society. Helen loved meeting all the dignitaries and celebrities that stayed at the hotel. When Helen met Dean, she was working for Ma Bell as a telephone operator. Deans sister was an operator with her and arranged their blind date. Dean and Helen were married in 1948, at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. Kountze was a significant part of Helens life. She, her siblings, and both of her children were baptized there. There was Sunday attendance at Kountze, whenever a family vacation took them back to Omaha. The Goodman family moved to Oklahoma City, for a short time while Dean attended school. They moved to Montana in 1960. Helen worked for the Great Falls school district as a library clerk at Paris Gibson Junior High and CM Russell High School. Helen and Dean moved to Salt Lake City in 1976, and returned to Great Falls in 1980. Helen was very active and supportive in all the family activities. She volunteered for the Salvation Army, as well as Faith Lutheran Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church. She looked forward to meeting her friends as often as possible. There was usually dessert involved. She especially cherished her time and friendship with Angie Juvick. They are happy to be together again. Helen was one of a kind. She was an incredibly good sport when being teased about her silly antics. She was bubbly and energetic and ready for a fun trip or a good time. She loved all the holidays spent in Billings with Doug and Denise. She recently had been enjoying visits to Arizona to see Denise. Helen referred to herself as a true survivor and empowered her children to be the same. She met adversity with a silent strength. She considered her children as her biggest success in life. Her family was her first priority. Helens deep love and devotion to Dean, Denise and Doug was unfailing. She is leaving us with a legacy ofmuch humor, strength, and love. Remember her with a smile and know that she and Dean can once again polka together. The family would like to express their unwavering gratitude to the caregivers that stayed involved in Helens life after Deans passing. Thank you to Lilia Eggleston, Nikki Fletcher Boggs, Chris Wilson, Vanessa Spiewak, and Amanda Gable. The family would also like to thank and express their appreciation for the frequent visits of 4year old, Caleb Bice. He brought much joy and many smiles into Dean and Helens lives. Helen is survived by her daughter, Denise and husband, Bob Lee; son Douglas and wife, Marcia; Doug and Marcias children, Brad and Melissa (Dean Hammons); great-grandchildren, Drew and Kelsey; brother Don Berney and wife Gwen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials in Helens name may be given to Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church Free Health Clinic, 2650 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131-3616.