Helen Potter, 89, of Valparaiso, passed away on October 25, 2018 at South Haven Living Center in Wahoo. Helen was born September 24, 1929, in rural Weston, to Andrew and Tillie (Miriovsky) Furasek. She attended Rural District 74 country school. She was united in marriage to Benjamin Potter on October 3, 1949, at St. Vitus Catholic Church in Touhy. From this marriage, they were blessed with nine children and lived and farmed west of Valparaiso their entire married life until Ben’s death in 2006.

Helen was a caring and loving mother and grandmother, a homemaker, and a farmer’s wife. She was also a member of the Valparaiso American Legion Auxiliary-Post 371 and Sts. Mary and Joseph Altar Society. She enjoyed baking, gardening, raising chickens, listening to music and polka dancing, sewing, embroidering, playing cards, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s many activities. Helen was prayerful, faithful, hardworking and always thinking of others.  She always looked forward to the holidays and family gatherings where she was surrounded by all her family of 60 plus members.

Helen is survived by her daughters Janice Christensen of Lincoln and Joyce (Jim) Paulsen of Omaha, sons Dennis, Dwaine (Rose), Marvin (Diane), Kenny, David (Cindy), and Darryl (Dixie) Potter all of Valparaiso; 24 grandchildren, with two others preceding her in death; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Delores (Ermin) Benes and Betty (Robert) Potter of Valparaiso; many nephews, nieces, and cousins; and a great deal of friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ben, daughter Jeannie Potter, grandson Scott Potter, grandson Andrew Potter, daughter-in-law Gwen (Dennis) Potter, son-in-law Tom (Joyce) Kolar, her parents, sister Rosie, brother and sister-in-law Joe and Rose Furasek, brother and sister-in-law Adolph and Alice Furasek, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Lillian Potter, brother-in-law Robert Potter and brother-in-law Ermin Benes.