HELEN F. OGDEN-LINK, 85 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away Monday, October 3, 2011 at Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland.

Helen Fern Ogden-Link was born November 8, 1925, in rural Decatur, Nebraska, to Frank and Marie (Ashby) Conklin. She attended District 23 school through eighth grade and at the age of 16 ½ years, graduated from Rosalie High School in 1942.

On September 11, 1944, Helen married Kenneth Ogden in South Sioux City, Nebraska, while Bud was home on leave. They lived all their lives between Burt and Thurston Counties. After Bud passed away, she married Richard Link of Walthill. In 1995, she moved to Four Trees apartments and began her life in Oakland.

Helen was city clerk at Decatur while her kids were growing up. On August 1, 1966, she started working at Iowa Beef Packers counting kidneys and working her way up to head of payroll. She retired in September 1982.

Helen was very active in her community and her kid’s activities. She served as a 4-H leader for many years, and drove football/basketball players to games and loved every minute of it.

She was a devoted VFW Auxiliary member, receiving her 50-year pin in 2003. She held almost every office while she was in Decatur. When she was District President, she was also President of her local chapter.

Helen always enjoyed reading--books, magazines, newspapers, and pretty much anything she could get her hands on. She enjoyed her crafts-- embroidery, plastic-canvas, crocheting and quilting. She also did extensive collecting and recording of family genealogy. For most of her life, there wasn’t enough time in the day for everything she wanted to do.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Kenneth and Richard; brother, Frank Conklin, Jr. and son-in-law, Tim Hoffner.

Survivors include her sons, Dennis (Arla) Ogden of Oakland, Dave (Ann) Ogden of Yuma, AZ; daughter, Betty Hoffner of Oakland; sisters, Arline Parker of Oakland, Beverly (Merlin) Echtenkamp of Ankeny, Iowa, Alyce (Kent) Bayne of Monroe, Oregon, Sue Brewer of Decatur; brother, Glenn Conklin of Winslow, Nebraska; seven grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, October 6, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Oakland.

VISITATION: Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church.

BURIAL: Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, Nebraska

MEMORIALS: To the Family

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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