Fifth Generation

99. Berniece Agnes MILLER was born on 16 December 1929 in Monroe County, WI.^17,18,93 She graduated in 1947 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁴ from Tomah High School. She died on 3 November 2019 at the age of 89 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.⁹³

Obituary Notes: "Berniece Agnes Helming, 89, of Tomah passed surrounded by her family Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center, La Crosse. She was born Dec. 16, 1929, to Richard C. and Mae A. (Blaskey) Miller in Tomah. Berniece attended the White Elementary School and later Tomah High School, graduating in 1947.

After high school, she went on to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in education. Throughout her teaching career, Berniece experienced it all, from teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Reels Valley to substitute teaching in a variety of schools in the Tomah Area School District.

Berniece’s adventurous spirit instilled in her a desire to travel to see places she taught to her students. Her trip to Juneau, Alaska and her honeymoon to Niagara Falls, were favorites. On Aug. 13, 1953, she was united in marriage to Merle Helming at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Tomah. He preceded her in death June 23, 2013.

Believing that leading life by example was just as important as information taught from a textbook, Berniece dedicated her time as General Leader for the Star Gazers 4-H Club in Monroe County. She was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame for over 50 years of service. She was instrumental in organizing, educating and encouraging 4-H youth to become well-rounded, community-minded people. She was a countywide clothing leader and supervised the Monroe County 4-H Clothing Preview and was the clothing superintendent at the Monroe County Fair. She dedicated herself to many night and weekend meetings, helping kids with sewing. Her club demonstrated a strong commitment to 4-H and community service.

Berniece organized a roadside clean-up project for the Warrens/Tomah area, which is a tradition that continues today. In 1986, Berniece was selected as Wisconsin’s Outstanding Leader and went to Washington, D.C., to receive a Salute to Excellence Award. In 2013, she received the Monroe County 4-H Alumni Award. Berniece was supportive of 4-H and always willing to help. She showed her commitment by serving on numerous Monroe County 4-H Leaders Association committees. She showed her strong commitment to the youth of Monroe County by the hours she donated to the program. She showed her leadership skills by leading through example.

In 2015, Berniece was also honored by the American Associations of University Women Tomah Branch for her contributions to the enhancement and building of those in the communities she has served. She was a faithful member of Queen of the Catholic Parish and served on the PCCW for many years.

Last but absolutely not least, Berniece’s greatest achievement was that of being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She found great joy in teaching her children the importance of faith in the Lord, unconditional love for one another, and the knowledge that together they could move mountains. She was sweet and kind and loving. She always found ways to encourage and nurture not only her children and grandchildren but countless children she encountered throughout the years. Her infectious giggle would bring a smile to everyone’s face and the kindness in her eyes could put everyone at ease. She will, and forever be remembered as “The Best Mom Ever.” She was a pillar of grace and faith to her family and her legacy will live on through the countless lives she has touched.

She is survived by her eight children, Richard (Jill) Helming of Warrens, Carol Helming (John Lidington) of Colorado, Mark Helming (Anna Ledvina) of Tomah, Wayne (Jean) Helming of Bangor, Peggy (Joe) Kowols of Mt. Prospect, Ill., Jeff (Cindy) Helming of Tomah, Lois (Stephan) Hellweg of Black Creek, Shelly (Dan) Smerchek of Rosholt; 17 grandchildren, David (Miranda) Helming of Warrens, Zachary Helming of Warrens, and Ashleigh (Joe) Brand of Tomah, Chad Nelson of Arizona, Curt and Craig Nelson of Colorado, Maximilian and Augustine Helming of Tomah, Michael (Jill) Kowols of Des Plaines, Ill., Timothy (Laura) Kowols of Green Bay, Heather, Justin, Allison, and Alexander (Deborah) Hellweg of Black Creek, Kelsi (Jordan) Hammer, Dathan, and Kailen Smerchek of Rosholt; eight great-grandchildren, Joseph and Christopher Kowols, Grace and Madison Kowols, Harper, Adley and Holden Helming and Zaylee Brand; a sister, Bertha Leeser; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert (Judy) Helming of Tomah, Tom Helming of Sparta, Georgia Sierra of Appleton, James Bernhardt of Wilton and Calvin Pasch Tomah; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is further preceded in death by her husband, Merle; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Charles Leeser, Gladys, Clarabelle and Edna Helming, Pam Helming, Bill Pierce, Tom Dempsey, Al Kruse, John Helming, William and Diane Miller, Mabel Bernhardt, Bernieta Pasch; and a niece, Janice Lepkowski.

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Parish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 303 West Monroe St., Tomah. Monsignor Richard W. Gilles will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited for time of visitation Thursday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah. A parish rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. and again from 9:30 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the church."

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Berniece Agnes MILLER and Merle Edwin "Papa" HELMING were married on 13 August 1953.^{18,38,92,93,95} Merle Edwin "Papa" HELMING, son of Anthony Henry HELMING and Clara WINKLEMAN, was born on 15 December 1921 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^18,96 He died on 23 June 2013 at the age of 91 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁶

Obituary Notes: "Merle “Papa” Edwin Helming, 91, of Tomah, died Sunday, June 23, 2013, at his home. He was born Dec. 15, 1921, to Tony and Clara (Winkelman) Helming in the town of LaGrange, Monroe County. He attended the White and Kirby Country Schools. He was a graduating member of the Tomah High School class of 1940.

After graduating from high school he went to work on a dairy farm near Grayslake, Ill. He worked in the produce department of an A & P Store in Round Lake, Ill. In 1942, he was drafted into the military service. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a radio technician on the Pacific Island of Saipan. He was a World War II veteran.

He returned home in December, 1946. He had several jobs: he worked logging, for the railroad, hauling stock and cattle, and at the PX at Fort McCoy. In 1953, he began working at the Tomah VA Hospital as a nursing assistant and worked there until his retirement in 1980.

He was a charter member of the Tomah F.F.A. and was also on a livestock judging team at the school. He enjoyed playing cards, cribbage, working in his garden, picking strawberries, raspberries, all sorts of vegetables, working in his pumpkin and squash patch. He especially enjoyed the kindergartners that came from various schools and groups to pick their own pumpkins. He did this for 35 years. He enjoyed watching horse pulls and Allis-Chalmers tractors.

He went on several trips with his wife. They visited Niagara Falls for their honeymoon and again on there 45th wedding anniversary, they traveled on a train out west making several stops in different cities along the way, and numerous other trips, even though Merle was mostly a “home body.” He was a faithful member of St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Merle was a proud “papa.” He loved his grandchildren very much, hunting and fishing with them, especially with his two grandsons, David and Zach Helming. He will always be remembered by his grandchildren for his sense of humor, his white striped overalls, cuddling with grandpa in his big chair for siestas, and his big hands. He always said “there’s not a bum in the bunch.” Most important to Merle was his family, especially his wife, Berniece. He was a devoted husband and a proud father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Berniece; his eight children, Richard (Jill) Helming of Warrens, Carol Helming of Colorado, Mark (his fiancé Anna Ledvina) Helming of Tomah, Wayne (Jean) Helming of Bangor, Peggy (Joe) Kowols of Mt. Prospect, Ill., Jeff (Cindy) Helming of Tomah, Lois (Stephen) Hellweg of Black Creek, Shelly (Dan) Smerchek of Rosholt; 17 grandchildren, David (Miranda) Helming of Warrens, Zachary Helming of Warrens, and Ashleigh Helming of Tomah, Chad Nelson of Arizona, Curt and Craig Nelson of Colorado, Maximillian and Augustine Helming of Tomah, Michael (Jill) Kowols of Des Plaines, Ill., Timothy (Laura) Kowols of Green Bay, Heather, Justin, Allison, and Alexander Hellweg of Black Creek, Kelsi, Dathan, and Kailen Smerchek of Rosholt; and two soon to be expected great-grandchildren; brothers, Robert (Judy) Helming, John and Tom Helming, all of Tomah; and a sister, Georgia Sierra of Appleton; sisters-in-law, Bertha Leeser, Diane Miller, Mabel (James) Bernhardt; and a brother-in-law, Calvin Pasch; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Clara; sisters Gladys, Clarabelle and Edna Helming; sister-in-law, Pam Helming; brothers-in-law, Bill Pierce, Tom Dempsey and Al Kruse; his father and mother-in-law, Richard and Mae Miller; brothers-in-law, Charles Leeser and William Miller; sister-in-law, Bernieta Pasch; and a niece, Janice Lepkowski,
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 27, at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Tomah. Msgr. Richard W. Gilles will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah,  and from 9:30 a.m.until time of the Mass on Thursday at the church. A parish rosary will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The family requests memorials be given to the Tomah Hospice Touch, c/o Tomah Memorial Hospital, 321 Butts Ave., Tomah, Wis."