Helen Huebner

In Loving Memory of Helen Marie Huebner

Helen Marie Huebner lived a life defined by quiet strength, unwavering independence, deep love for her family, and a wonderful sense of humor. She found joy in life's simple pleasures, believed in hard work, and left behind countless memories that will continue to bring smiles to everyone who knew her.

Helen was born on October 11, 1930, to George and Mabel Hansen and grew up in North Platte, Nebraska. During World War II she proudly helped her mother at the historic North Platte Canteen, where volunteers welcomed more than six million service members passing through the Union Pacific Railroad depot with food, gifts, and heartfelt gratitude. One of Helen's favorite jobs was licking the extra brownie batter from the mixing bowls. After enjoying perhaps a little too much, she declared herself “finished with chocolate”. Remarkably, she kept that promise for over 80 years. At the age of 95, she happily declared she had "given it up long enough" and rediscovered her love of chocolate with a bowl of M&M’s kept nearby.

Before starting her family, Helen worked in banking, a career she truly enjoyed and built many lasting friendships. It was there she met her best friend, Margaret (Huebner) Myers. Their friendship led to Margaret introducing Helen to her brother Robert Huebner, her future husband. On March 26, 1961, she married Robert, and together they built a life in Hershey, Nebraska. Their first home was a modest one-room farmhouse that they transformed with determination and hard work, adding plumbing and two bedrooms. Helen was remarkably handy and loved carpentry. Whether building cabinets, refinishing furniture, or even helping roof a house, she was never afraid to tackle a project.

Helen was a devoted member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, where she faithfully served for many years as both a Sunday school and Catechism teacher. Her love of Scripture and passion for helping others grow in their faith led her to become one of the congregation's first certified instructors for the Bethel Bible Series for adults. She took that responsibility to heart, spending countless hours each week preparing each lesson with care and enthusiasm. Gifted at bringing the Bible to life, Helen masterfully used maps, visual aids, and memorable key words to help her students understand not only individual Bible stories, but also God's unfolding plan woven throughout Scripture. Her thoughtful teaching inspired generations of learners and reflected the deep faith that guided her life.

After Robert's passing in 1994, Helen moved to Lincoln to be closer to her daughters and to welcome the joy of becoming a grandmother. Later, when her daughters relocated to Omaha in 2003, Helen moved once again—this time into a home built next door to her oldest daughter, Karen. Having her family just steps away brought her tremendous happiness. She especially loved watching her three grandsons grow up and play baseball in the backyard. She cherished everyday moments.

Helen cared deeply about the world around her. As an active member of the Sierra Club during the 1970s, she was passionate about protecting the environment and preserving the beauty of nature long before conservation became commonplace.

She also had a lifelong love of collecting. While working at the bank, she started buying silver dollars for just one dollar each—a hobby that proved to be both enjoyable and wise. She carefully built impressive coin and stamp collections, but perhaps nothing brought her more delight than her famous Beanie Baby collection. Over the years, she collected hundreds upon hundreds of Beanie Babies, joyfully giving them away to family members, neighborhood children, and anyone who could use a smile. Her generosity brought happiness to many lives.

Helen loved to travel, especially if the destination included a casino. After her girls took her on a cruise for her 80th birthday in 2011, she quickly became a cruise enthusiast. Cruises offered everything she loved—family, buffets, shopping, beautiful destinations, and of course, a floating casino. Las Vegas was another favorite destination, where she often outlasted the younger generations. Cards remained one of her greatest joys throughout her final days. Whether playing blackjack or her favorite card game “in-between” around the family table, cards created some of her happiest memories. She was competitive and loved to win! One of Helen's greatest passions was Nebraska Cornhusker volleyball. She faithfully followed the team and knew the players well. She rarely missed a match and enthusiastically cheered on the Huskers through every season starting in the 1990’s. Even after her eyesight made it difficult to watch the games on television, she didn’t miss the action. Instead, she listened intently to the broadcasts, rooting loudly for her beloved Huskers. Game days were among her favorite family gatherings.

Above all else, Helen treasured her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend whose love was shown not through grand gestures, but through her steady presence, resilience, generosity, and countless acts of kindness. She taught those around her the value of hard work, independence, laughter, and finding joy in life's little moments.

Helen is lovingly survived by her three daughters, Karen, Janet (Kevin), and Doris Ruth (Jason); and by her three grandsons, Jordan, Jake, and Marcus. She also is survived by five “grand-pups” who loved to snuggle with their grandma and eat cookie crumbs from her shirt.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Huebner; her parents, George and Mabel Hansen; and her brother, Jim Hansen.

Helen's life reminds us that happiness can be found in family gatherings, a good card game, a thoughtfully collected treasure, the satisfaction of building something with your own hands, and yes—even a piece of chocolate after waiting over eighty years.

Though she will be deeply missed, the love she gave, the laughter she shared, and the memories she created will remain with us always. Her legacy lives on in her family, in the traditions she began, and in the countless lives she touched with her quiet generosity and enduring love.