Lou Helmig

Lou Helmig, 87, of Otterville, Missouri, passed of a heart attack while dressing for church Sunday morning at her home on their farm of over 67 years.

Mary Lou Evans was born April 3, 1935, in Linn, Missouri, to Herbert and Mary Ethel (Farrell) Evans and was their only child.

Known to most as Lou, she was referred to as Mary Lou by her husband Elmer, sometimes lovingly and sometimes when she irritated him.

Lou only received an eighth-grade formal education when it was cut short by love. She and her forever husband and lifetime partner eloped to Arkansas and were married on September 30, 1949.

Lou was mother to five sons and one daughter. Her oldest son was born December 10, 1950, and the youngest, her daughter Annette, was born March 15, 1960. She was 25 years old.

Lou and Elmer owned a farm at Linn with her in-laws until 1953 when they sold out. In 1953, Lou and Elmer bought a farm at Cole Camp, Missouri, which was over 100 miles from any family and where she had been raised.

In 1955, Lou and Elmer sold their farm at Cole Camp and bought their first farm of many near Otterville to acquire better farmland. Lou was 20 years old. She and Elmer eventually owned several farms in Missouri and one in Iowa.

Lou was a farm wife until the day she died—over 73 years.

Lou worked right alongside Elmer in row cropping, hog production, beef cattle pairs, fat cattle, wheat farming, and hay production as well as the dairy “milking” years.

Lou drove tractors and grain trucks as well managing and working the farrowing houses. She could drive a hay bailer as well as nurse a nearly frozen calf back to life and she also helped with milking. She could and often did out work the men.

In addition to working on the farm, raising six children, and being a homemaker, Lou was the bookkeeper and checkbook manager for the farming operation which grew quite large.

Lou also worked off the farm to supplement the farm’s income and pay living expenses for the large family. She worked as a cook at Goldbergs Restaurant in Sedalia and at the Otterville School, and later in life at the Otterville Mini Mart.

Lou and Elmer were avid race fans. They had been to most of the famous dirt tracks across the country to watch the World of Outlaw sprint cars and had been to several of the NASCAR races across the country.

Lou loved her dogs and was an avid supporter of the Sedalia Animal Shelter and ASPCA.

Lou was a devout Christian woman (although she was known for her mouth when mad) and insisted that her children attended church even to their adulthood and her death.

Lou instilled in her children a strong work ethic, a toughness, a good moral compass, yet how to be tender and loving.

She loved her family and was proud of their careers and accomplishments all the way to her great-great-grandchildren.

Lou was a longtime member and the resident matriarch of the Providence Baptist Church.

Elmer and Lou had six children; Gene (Vonnie) Helmig of Columbus Junction, IA; Mike (Janet) Helmig of Wharton, TX; Dale Helmig of Otterville; Richard Helmig (Michelle Taylor) of Sedalia, MO; Bert Helmig (deceased); and Annette (Ronnie) Cornine of Otterville.

Grandchildren are Schelly Brosch, Shane Helmig, Tawnua Tenley, Thad Helmig, Melissa Jones (deceased), Lori Dunn, Jason Mears, Denny Mears, Brad Helmig, Matt Helmig, Jake Helmig (deceased), Christy Wilfong, Brittany Summers, Carey Helmig (deceased), J.W. Helmig, Cody Helmig, Ronnie Cornine (deceased), and Dena Bemboom; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Lou was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; son Bert; granddaughters Melissa Jones and Carey Helmig; grandsons Ronnie Cornine and Jake Helmig; and great-grandson Thatcher Helmig.

Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Otterville, Missouri. The funeral will also be at the First Baptist Church at 1:30 PM Thursday, December 22, 2022. Interment will follow at the IOOF Cemetery in Otterville.

Pallbearers are Thad Helmig, Matt Helmig, Cody Helmig, Jimmy Wilfong, Coy Wilfong and Chris Bemboom.

Memorial contributions may be made and will be appreciated by the Dream Factory or the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, in care of Meisenheimer-Page-Dady Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Tipton, MO 65081.