Helga Craft

FOSTER — Funeral services for Helga Craft, 85, of Foster and Pierce were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, at United Methodist Church in Plainview with Pastor Joan Alexander officiating. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview. Organist Wanda Retzlaff accompanied the congregational hymns “Here I Am Lord” and “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling.” Pallbearers were Tyler Gansebom, Alexander Gansebom, Anthony Craft and Clayton Craft.

Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2, at Ashburn Funeral Home in Plainview.

Mrs. Craft died Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Norfolk.

Helga Emmy, daughter of August Becker and Pauline (Braemer) Becker, was born May 20, 1936, in Mannheim, Germany. At the young age of 17, Helga made the journey to the United States of America, where she was sponsored by relatives in Nebraska. Helga married Robert V. Craft from Foster in 1957 in Plainview. They lived on a farm south of Foster. They were involved with the breeding of S.P.F. Duroc hogs which were sold throughout the U.S., China and Mexico. Helga moved to Pierce during the later years of retirement where she enjoyed the friendships she built with neighbors. Helga was a very independent and determined individual, as displayed by coming alone to America at such a young age. She loved her flowers and cooking, and especially enjoyed the holidays with family and friends.

Helga is survived by her son, Mark and wife Susan Craft of Hadar; daughter, Ingrid and husband Clark Gansebom of Osmond; four grandsons and spouses, Anthony and Brittney Craft of Foster, Clayton and Margaret Craft of Norfolk, Tyler and Tiffany Gansebom of Osmond, and Alexander Gansebom of Omaha; four great-granddaughters, Abigail Craft, Isabelle Craft, Harper Gansebom, and Harlow Gansebom, and one great-grandson, Carter Gansebom.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert V. Craft; parents, August and Pauline Becker, sister Inge Daub and grandson Marshal Craft.