Helen Kathryn (Hallbauer) Smith of Perry County
Helen Kathryn (Hallbauer) Smith, 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sept. 5, 2020.
Helen was born Jan. 16, 1928, the oldest daughter of Erle and Grace (Bigham) Hallbauer of rural Cutler, Illinois. She married Mervin Smith on June 29, 1947 in Denmark, Illinois, and they enjoyed 69 years of being happily married and working together to build a family and farm.
He preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 2016. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Jean Campbell.
Helen was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. After graduating high school, she started college at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale to become a teacher. Her dream was to be a missionary teacher. That dream was put on hold when she married and began a family, but in reality she served as a lifelong missionary by bringing people from other nations into her home and her life through 4-H and Farm Bureau programs, reaching out to many foreign students from SIU, and a foreign exchange student.
She gave them a home base in this country along with love and care when they needed it. She and Mervin have sponsored numerous other children from many countries to provide for their education and housing needs. Helen was well known for her God-given gift of hospitality and the ability to make people comfortable in her home. Helen and Mervin were 4-H leaders for many years with the Denmark 4-H Clubs where they touched many lives as well. She leaves her family a legacy of faith, service and generosity.
Helen was a follower of Jesus and involved in ministry all of her life. She was a founding member, and the oldest member, of The Gathering in Coulterville. She was a great supporter and encourager as this new ministry was established. She served many years as a Sunday school teacher, Bible School teacher, pianist and choir member, as well as holding various other positions at Denmark Baptist Church where she grew up and raised her children. She later continued her service at Pinckneyville First Baptist Church.
Aftger leaving college, Helen taught at Jenkins School in rural Perry County, where she taught all grade levels in the one-room school. She was a true farm wife working alongside her husband to run the farm and provide for her family. She raised gardens that would feed her family along with many others. She worked as a teacher's aide in Pinckneyville for several years in the 70s where she once again touched the lives of children.
Helen is survived by her four children, Bill (Sally) Smith of Jackson, Tennessee, Bob (Pat) Smith of Cutler, Kathryn (Kevin) Kuhnert of Pinckneyville and Jim Smith of Pinckneyville.
She has nine grandchildren of whom she was so proud, Brett (Janeen) Smith, Clay (Joy) Smith, Jennie (Dusty) Hughes, Kent Smith, Lee Smith, Jeff (Leah) Wagner, Aaron (Erin) Kuhnert, Nicole (L.J.) Heisner and Megan (Dustin) Warder.
She is also survived by 28 great-grandchildren, Jarett, Zachary, Ian and Cassi Smith; Caleb (Clarissa) Smith, Joshua (Heather) Smith, Emma (Michael) Wilson, Thomas, Will, Laura and Grace Smith, Hannah, Seth, Micah and Jonah Hughes; Nathan Smith; Stephen, David, Andrew and Blayne Wagner; Kadence, Kaitlyn and Kamryn Kuhnert; Jacob, Caden and Sadie Heisner; and Nicolas and Halle Warder.
In addition she leaves behind an honorary son, Shinya Miyata, and an honorary granddaughter, Esther Roy. Helen is also survived by a sister, Fern (Claude) Shannon, along with a number of nieces, nephews, and friends.
There will be a graveside service starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 8, 2020 at Galum Presbyterian Cemetery. Due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 virus and the executive order signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, attendance will be limited to 50 people and social distancing will be enforced.
In order to allow all who would like to pay their respects to our mother's life, her family is inviting friends to join them at an outdoor time of remembrance on Sept. 7 at the residence of her daughter, 710 Queens Way, in Pinckneyville. The event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., and at 4 p.m. the family will host a celebration of life.