Helen Marie Minor

Helen Marie (Hammontree) Minor went to be present with her Lord on Thursday, June 23rd in Kirksville, MO.

Helen was born November 11, 1932 to Rev. Gerald and Bonnie Hammontree in Adrian, MO.

On June 28, 1953, in Brashear, MO., Helen was married to Reginald (Raggs) Bentley, and to this union three daughters were born: Terri Diane of Kirksville, Deborah Kay Varner (Randy) of St. Joseph, and Kathy Sue Robertson (Dan) of Clark, MO.

On March 28, 1969 in Moberly, MO., Helen married Paul Minor. Helen and Paul loved sports and for decades held season tickets to MU football and basketball games. They were also big St. Louis Cardinal baseball fans. Helen and Paul loved to travel and went to the Holy Land several times. Helen loved to play the piano, and was self-taught. She could transpose any music into different keys on the fly. Helen held several secretarial/receptionist jobs at Kirksville Osteopathic Hospital, and also was an executive secretary for Farmers Home Administration for many years and did some book-keeping on the side. After moving to Columbia, MO, Helen worked as a file clerk and secretary for the Regional Diagnostic Center. Helen was very active in any church she was a member of, and her salvation, Bible, and church attendance were of utmost importance to her. After retiring, Helen was very active as a volunteer for The Shepherd's Basket, a food bank in Columbia, MO, and firmly believed that no one should go hungry. Helen was also a wonderful cook, and blessed many with her homemade hot rolls, cookies, cakes, cobblers and casseroles.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul Minor, sister Peggy Adams, daughter Debbie Varner, step-son Mark Minor (Karen) and brother-in-law Frank Foster. She is survived by her daughters Terri Bentley and Kathy Sue Robertson, step-daughters Cindy Beets (Larry) of Florida, Jeanne Lowe (Doug) of Marceline, and Cathy Ann Brumitt (Tom) of Cape Girardeau, sisters Joanne Foster, Gail Lee (Steve) and brother Dale Hammontree (Ruth), 15 Grandchildren, 25 Great-Grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service for the family was held June 26th at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Rev. Terry Hunsaker officiating. Musical selections were “It is Well With My Soul”, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”, and per family tradition, the family sang “Because He Lives” at the gravesite. Burial took place in the Park View Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made in her name to The Shepherd's Basket food bank in Columbia, MO (donations can be made through Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home).