Helen Annette Goodenow

In Honor of Helen Annette Goodenow

Helen Annette Goodenow, the sixth child of Frederick R. and Daisy Humes Goodenow, was born near Battle Creek, Iowa, in 1893. She attended the rural schools of Ida County in grades 1 - 8 and graduated from the Battle Creek High School in 1911. The following four years she kept house for two of her brothers and/or taught in a nearby rural school. She then attended State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from which she graduated with a 2-year course in Home Economics. Following graduation in 1917, Helen taught one year in McCallsburg, IA, after which she went to Seminole, OK. That year was the year of the flu epidemic - fall of 1918-1919. After having school for six weeks, school was dismissed for six weeks. During that interim, the teachers helped in the community in any way they could. They also helped sign up the soldiers and to care for the sick.

In 1919-1920 Helen went to Smithland, IA to teach. During the years of 1920-1922, she attended Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa from which she graduated with a B.S. She returned to Smithland for one more year after which she taught two years in Randolph, NE. In 1924 she went to Seattle, WA, to attend summer school. While there she got a job teaching at Mt. Vernon, Wa staying there 1924-1928. She attended school at Seattle during the summers and worked on her Masters Degree. While taking work at the U. of Seattle, she worked in Food Service during 1920-1930, and received her M.S. She then went to Eugene, OR the fall of 1930, staying there 10 years working in the University food service.

During the years 1940-1942, Helen spent time visiting in Ann Arbor, MI, Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y. and visiting relatives.

In the fall of 1942 Helen began work at Currier Hall in Iowa City, IA, as Head Dietitian. She retired from that position in July 1963. She moved from Iowa City in July 1982 to Morningside Manor at Ida Grove, IA where she died on February 26, 1988.

Aunt Helen was very special to her many nieces and nephews. She was always encouraging us to do as well as we could - be it our work, schooling, or just being a good person. She was always interested in what we her nieces and nephews were involved with. When she was at Currier Hall in Iowa City one of her employees had a hearing impediment. Aunt Helen learned to "sign " so that this employee would be better able to function in the dormitory kitchen/dining area. She was heart broken when she retired when no one seemed interested in learning to sign so the fairly young man could continue to work there. Aunt Helen shared her good fortune with her sisters in numerous silent ways. It was always very special to receive a letter from her when she was in Oregon. Aunt Helen was a very caring person. A great role model to all who knew her. Submitted by nieces Mildred Kimball Paaske, Miriam Kimball Colvin, and Phyllis Kimball Hoefling

4/16/94