Helen C. Wells

Helen Cecelia Wells, 98, entered into eternal rest on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.

Helen was born on January 11, 1928, in Dawson, Nebraska, to William E. and Anna C. (Cummins) Kean. She attended elementary and high school in Dawson and graduated in 1946. She then attended Peru Teacher College. Helen taught elementary school in Iowa and Nebraska for ten years.

On February 23, 1957, she married Lowell E. Wells, a widower with three daughters. She dedicated the rest of her life to helping Lowell on their dairy farm and raising his daughters, Judy, Phylurie, and Sally, as her own. Later in life, Helen worked as a certified nurse aide and physical therapy assistant at the Sabetha Community Hospital and Sabetha Manor.

Helen was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sabetha, the Sacred Heart Altar Society, and the VFW Post 7285 Auxiliary. Lowell and Helen valued time with each other and their extended family. They enjoyed fishing, attending their grandchildren’s school events, traveling with Lowell’s United States Submarine Veterans of World War II group, and visiting family stationed at military posts across the United States and internationally.

Helen had a deep love for her family, especially her grandchildren. She cherished every moment with them and spent as much time as she could helping to care for them. Her beautiful smile was never brighter than when her grandchildren came to visit. Helen’s nieces and nephews also have fond memories of their time at Aunt Helen’s farm, and she maintained close relationships with them throughout her life.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her two daughters, Judy Neal and Phylurie Johns; one grandchild; two great-great grandchildren; her two brothers, John and Bill Kean; and her two sisters, Ruth Kuster and Marie Conn Nester.

Survivors include her daughter, Sally (Alan) Hartter of Sabetha; her six grandchildren, Lisa (John) Suhr, Brian (Tara) Hartter, Jared (Myra) Hartter, Monica (David) Cook, Melanie (Johnny) Huynh, and Louis Fulton; her 12 great-grandchildren; her 11 great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Virginia (Bob) Moran of Jamestown, North Dakota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sabetha. Before the Mass at the church, starting at 10:00 a.m., a rosary will be prayed, and there will be a visitation with the family. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Sabetha Cemetery in Sabetha. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Sabetha Community Hospital and the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia Street, Sabetha, Kansas 66534.