Helen Welborn Sprague passed away August 1, 2021 at South Central Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City, Kansas. She was born March 24, 1921 in rural Grenola to George N. and Blanche (Harvey) Thompson. She received her early education at Wolf Creek School south of Grenola and graduated from Grenola High School class of 1938.
She was a lifelong member of the Grenola United Methodist Church.
In 1939 she married Harold Welborn and they made their home in Independence, Missouri before moving to rural Grenola, in 1954. Helen worked at Farm Bureau Insurance at Howard and later was employed at 1st National Bank of Howard. The Welborns purchased the Shaffer Real Estate and Insurance Agency in Grenola.
After Harold’s death in 1979, she married Gilbert Wirth in 1981. He passed away in 1996. In 2001 Helen married Lee Sprague. He passed in 2007.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Marguerite Vaughn and Jimmie Madden.
Helen is survived by daughter Renee Wells and her husband Richard of Grenola, Rocky Welborn and his wife Joan, of Wichita. 6 grandchildren: Melanie Martin, Debbie (Darryl) Littrell, Jeff (Janelle) Wells, Denise (Jake) Liebau, Troy (Dawn) Welborn, Tara (Cory) Crain. 17 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren complete the 5 generation family.
Visitation will be held at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, KS on Thursday August 5 from 5:30-7:30pm.
Funeral services will be held at the Grenola United Methodist Church in Grenola, KS on Friday August 6 at 1:30pm, interment to follow in Green Lawn Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Grenola Methodist Church, Grenola Historical Society, or Grenola Senior Center and may be made through Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, PO Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349.
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