Helen Ryverse Arnston
Helen Ryerse Arntson, 102, formerly of Columbia City, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 in Traverse City, Mich. where she lived the past eleven years.
She was born Jan. 12, 1914 in St. Ignace, Mich., a daughter of Fred Graeme and Edna (Martin) Ryerse. She graduated from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace and Michigan State College in 1937 where she was a member of Tower Guard, Freshman Honorary, Mortar Guard, Senior Honorary and Alpha Gamma Delta. While at Michigan State, Helen attended Merrill-Palmer Child Development School in Detroit. She did her graduated work at University of Minnesota.
After college, she taught at Petoskey High School and Ferndale High School where she met her husband, Carl Arntson. They were married February 26, 1943 in Detroit, Mich. In May 1948 they moved from Detroit to Columbia City. She taught at Marshall Middle School from 1967 to 1977.
Helen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Columbia City and later Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Traverse City, Coterie, Tri Kappa and Indiana State Retired Teachers’ Association.
Surviving relatives include two daughters, Kathryn (Michael) Snyder and Carol Reckeweg; a granddaughter, Brianna (Trevor) Zamborsky; a great granddaughter, Helen Zamborsky; and several cousins in St. Ignace.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Alice.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The private burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. The visitation will be 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to Grace Lutheran Church Food Pantry.