Helen May Dimmick

Helen May (Rapp) Dimmick always told her children "I'd rather be outside than in the house." She was known by her kids as "Mom Extraordinaire." At the age of 89, Helen passed into the arms of God on Friday, January 10, 2014 from Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton, Iowa.
Helen was born April 11, 1924 on the family farm in Henry County, Illinois, the daughter of Ira and Florence (Ackerman) Rapp. She loved the outdoors and caring for the animals on the farm. Helen attended country school (Arnett School) and graduated Salutitorian of the Prophetstown High School with the Class of 1942. She also graduated from the American Institute of Commerce in Davenport, Iowa. On October 16, 1953, Helen married Carroll Robert Dimmick in Prophetstown. They celebrated fifty-five years of marriage. Carroll passed away July 2, 2008.
Helen worked up until the time she began to have children, working at Libby McNeil Milk Condensing Factory, Illinois Northern Utility Company, Eclipse Lawnmower Company and the Thomson State Bank. She was a homemaker at heart and loved raising their four children. Helen enjoyed gardening, canning jellies and jams, trains, tractors, dolls, collecting pigs, watching birds, traveling and watching her soaps. She was a member of the Thomson United Methodist Church where she served on the Ladies Aid Society, and she faithfully helped at Thomson Melon Days
Helen will be dearly missed by a daughter, Patricia (John) Benson of Iowa City, Iowa; three sons, Craig (Kathy) Dimmick of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, Curt (Alana) Dimmick of Chiloquin, Oregon and Kevin (Connie) Dimmick of Mt. Carroll; twelve grandchildren Kierstin, Kyler, Kaileine, and Koltin Dimmick, Allison, Ryan, and Jared Benson, Eli and Riley Dimmick, Tracy (Kelcy) Hutchison, Tammy (Matt) Hale and Tina (Greg) Pallardy; six great grandchildren, Grayson and Maddox Hale, Kailyn and Rowen Hutchison, Jack and Drew Pallardy; a sister, June Swanson of Prophetstown; a sister-in-law, Elsie Dimmick of Camanche, Iowa and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Carroll, and both parents.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at the Thomson United Methodist Church with Reverend Paul Fritz officiating. Burial will be in Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the Church from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Memorial tributes may be sent to the family. Family and friends are invited to share in her life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com .