SPRAGUE, Helen (Thompson) - b. March 24, 1921 - d. August 1, 2021

[patyrn]

Helen Welborn-Wirth-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, Kansas to George N. and Blanche (Harvey) Thompson.

Helen received her early education at Wolf Creek School south of Grenola and graduated from Grenola High School with the Class of 1938.  She was a lifelong member of the Grenola United Methodist Church.

In 1939, Helen married Harold Welborn, and they made their home in Independence, Missouri before moving to rural Grenola, Kansas in 1954.  Helen worked at Farm Bureau Insurance in Howard, Kansas and later was employed at 1st National Bank, also in Howard.  The Welborns purchased the Shaffer Real Estate and Insurance Agency in Grenola.  After Harold's death in 1979, she married Gilbert Wirth in 1961.  He passed away in 1996.  In 2001, she married Lee Sprague, and he passed in 2007.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Renee (Richard) Wells of Grenola, Kansas; her son, Rocky (Joan) Welborn of Wichita, Kansas; and 6 grandchildren, Melanie Martin, Debbie (Darryl) Littrell, Jeff (Janelle) Wells, Denise (Jake) Liebau, Troy (Dawn) Welborn, and Tara (Cory) Crain. 17 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren complete the 5 generation family.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, and her sisters, Marguerita Vaughn and Jimmie Madden.

Funeral service will be held at the Grenola Methodis Church on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Grenola, Kansas.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the  Grenola Methodist Church, Grenola Historical Society, or Grenola Senior Center and may be made through Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas which has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)