ARAPAHOE — Clarence Frederick William Helms, 93, of Arapahoe died Friday, July 25, 2014, at Good Samaritan Society-Arapahoe.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. James Moshier officiating. Burial will be at Arapahoe Cemetery with military honors by the Burtons Bend Veterans of Foreign Wars, Arapahoe American Legion and the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe is in charge of the
arrangements.

He was born Jan. 21, 1921, to Henry C. and Bertha (Hinz) Helms on the family farm northeast of Arapahoe.

On Feb. 16, 1944, he married Lois Stillman.

Survivors include his wife; sons and daughters-in-law, Lanny and Martha Helms of Arapahoe, Randy and Linda Helms of Holbrook, Dick and Bonnie Helms of Arapahoe and Bruce and Sue Helms of Holbrook; brother and sister-in-law, Edwin and Grace Helms of Arapahoe; sisters, Ruth McGhghy of Greeley, Colo., and Lucilla Carr of Elkhorn; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church northeast of Arapahoe and also attended Immanuel Lutheran School through the eighth grade. He married Lois at St. Matthews Lutheran Church northwest of Arapahoe. Clarence and Lois celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Feb. 16, 2014. To this union four sons were born, Lanny, Randy, Dick and Bruce.

Clarence enrolled in Co. 754 CCC Camp SCS-Neb-23 Beaver City on June 25, 1941. During this six-month period, Clarence worked on the surveying crew, tractor crew and as a tractor driver.

Clarence traveled to North Platte to work for Orvil Kuhlman, picked corn by hand and worked with the Polled Hereford cattle on the Kuhlman Ranch and the W.F. Cody Scouts Rest Ranch.

On March 17, 1944, Clarence was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. After his basic training and AIT at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Pendleton, Calif., Clarence was shipped to Germany where he worked in the motor pool during the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. Clarence was honorably discharged on April 28, 1946.

When Clarence returned to Arapahoe, he worked for two years as a mechanic at the International Dealership of Arapahoe. They moved to a farm seven miles north of Holbrook. Clarence enjoyed raising milo, wheat, hay and chickens; milking cows; and raising Polled Hereford cattle.

Clarence built a Polled Hereford herd, known as Helms Polled Herefords. He exhibited many champion Polled Herefords on a local, regional and national level. On Oct. 24, 2004, the American Hereford Association awarded Clarence with a Golden award for raising Hereford cattle for more than 50 years.

Clarence was a 4-H club leader for many years for the Busy Beavers 4-H Club in Gosper County north of Holbrook. He also served in various offices and positions in the Nebraska Polled Hereford Association.

Clarence faithfully served on committees and boards for St. Matthews Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cambridge and Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe. Clarence was a member of the Burtons Bend VFW 9357.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Reinhold and Henry; and sisters, Viola Monter, Bertha Evers, Edna Downing, Loreen Flicker and Alice Irene Helms.