Helen LaVerne Handy, 88

Helen LaVerne Handy, 88, passed away on April 22, 2011, at the Hodgeman County Long Term Care in Jetmore, Kan.

She was born on July 16, 1922, in Beeler, Kan., the daughter of Jacob Earl and Bernice Irene Gilmore Whipple.

She was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church, Eureka, the American Legion Auxiliary, Ness City, Kan., and the Delta Gamma Club, Englewood, Colo.

On Feb. 25, 1941. she married Gilbert Handy in Jetmore. He preceded her in death on Jan. 8, 1984. She later married Robert Johnson. They were divorced, but remained close friends.

She is survived by two sons, Dale Handy of Burdett, Kan., and Daryle Handy of Eureka; two daughters, Connie Stout of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Tami Burkhart of Burdett; five brothers, Jim “Chief” Whipple of San Diego, Don Whipple of Arvada, Colo., Rex Whipple of Beeler, Kan., Tom Whipple of Chicago, and Paul Whipple of Fowler, Colo.; one sister, Jennie Bates, of Denver; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Handy; four brothers, Clarence, Fenton and Wayne Whipple and Thayne Starner; two sisters, Hazel Prose and Ruby Mather; and two great-grandchildren, including Karyn Koterwski.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, at the First Baptist Church, Ness City, with Pastor Roger Alford presiding, with burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Friends may call today and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Gideons.