Helen Marie Lindgren

Helen Marie Lindgren, age 94, passed away Sunday, January 16, 2022, in Mena, Arkansas. Helen was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1927 to the late Carl and Blanch Farrar. She graduated Crozer Tech High School in Dallas, Texas, 1944. Helen worked for Bell Telephone Co. as a secretary for 25 years after working for many clothing departments stores. She met the love of her life, Bill in 1945, at the Cotton Bowl ice rink. She married Bill in 1946 after his honorable discharge from the Navy. Helen and Bill gave to and loved many in their long marriage, including unofficially “adopting” Bruce Rudinger as their “son” in 1974 and caring for extended family. They both developed a TV repair shop in 1955, in Waxahachie, Texas, until closing shop in the late 70’s. Helen made a lovely home there on Lake Waxahachie and handled bookkeeping and general office duties for the TV business. Once they sold the shop, they moved back to Bills home area of Lindsborg, Kansas, near Salina where Bill took loving care of an elementary school and both were very popular.

In 1987 they moved from Kansas to Austin, Texas, to work in real estate with Bruce Rudinger. In 1988, they moved to Athens, Texas, where they both enjoyed going to the Community Senior Center to dance. They loved traveling also.

Shortly thereafter, they moved to Cleburne, Texas. Where they enjoyed gardening beautiful flowers until 1990, when they moved to Mena, Arkansas, for the rest of their lives. After Bill’s sudden passing in 1993, Helen stayed busy with volunteer work as a foster grandparent at Acorn School District. And was active for years with her senior exercise class and the Senior Center.

In 1997, Helen met and unofficially “adopted” Gloria Phelps while shopping at Cornerstone Christian Bookstore and relished their close relationship.

She enjoyed worshipping at several churches here, including Calvary Baptist, First Baptist, and Faith Missionary Baptist, where she loved going to Sunday School and listening to her teacher, Steven Free. She had many great friends and relationships and loved them all up to her final day.

Mrs. Lindgren is survived by her sister, Gloria Jean “Jeanie” Short; nephew, Tony Williamson and wife Kathy; niece, Robin Williamson; nephew and wife, Thomas and Amber and their children, Maddie, Gracie, Max, Haddon, Hannah, and Ben; great-niece, Amanda Cottle; and unofficially “adopted” Bruce Rudinger and family, and Gloria Phelps and family. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, William “Bill” Lindgren; brother, Howard Farrar; mother and father, Carl and Blanch Farrar; and by her brother-in-law, Thomas “Bud” Short Sr.

Services will be held Friday, January 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena, Arkansas. Brother Mark Lyle will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. 

John 3:16

Online obituary at www.beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

About Author