Helen J. Lueken

Lynch — Helen Joyce Lueken, 83, of Lynch, died Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Accura Healthcare in O'Neill.

Visitation was held Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Assumption BVM Catholic Church in Lynch with a time of sharing.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at the church in Lynch.

Burial was in the Assumption BVM Catholic Cemetery in Lynch.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in Spencer was in charge of the arrangements.

Helen was born on May 1, 1942 to Harold and Edith “Opal” (Mellor) Halstead in Lynch. She was the middle child of the five Halstead children. Helen grew up and attended school in Lynch. One of her proudest achievements while in school, Helen won the Holt County Spelling Bee Championship. She graduated from Lynch High School in 1959.

After high school she met and married Donald “Kim” Lueken on Dec. 2,1961 at the Assumption BVM Catholic Church in Lynch. To this union four children were born Tracy, Patty, Mike and Tina.  

The couple bought and owned Lueken's Grocery in Lynch from the early 1970's until the late 1980's.  

Shortly after selling the grocery store, she began taking foster children. One of the first children that Helen got to take care of was Emily. She came along at the age of two and was nonverbal. Emily passed away at the age of six years old. Emily was one of Helen's greatest joys and her loss was one of her deepest sorrows. Robin Fife and Lisa Eilers later became part of the family through the foster system. Helen fostered over 125 children over the years and she retired when she moved into the Evergreen in O'Neill.

Helen was a member of the Assumption BVM Catholic Church Altar Society and a member of the card club.

She always enjoyed a good cup of coffee, baking, dancing and bowling. Helen liked to travel when she could, taking a couple of bus tours and even an Alaskan Cruise with her family. One of her greatest joys was following her kids and grandkids activities. She always loved spending time with them.

Helen is survived by her four children Tracy (Rex) Stahlecker of Norfolk, Patty (Patrick) Chohon of O'Neill, Mike (Abby) Lueken of Pierce and Tina (Andy) Dougherty of O'Neill; two special daughters Lisa (Josh) Eilers of Crofton and Robin Fife of Norfolk; 14 grandchildren Angela (Nathan) Wortman, Trevor (Jennifer) Stahlecker, Tyson (Tara) Chohon, Aaron (Emily) Chohon, Riley (Kelcy) Chohon, Kayla (Kyle) Zautke, Kelly (Jackie) Lueken, Bailee Dougherty, Alexa Dougherty, Lukas Dougherty, Logan Dougherty, Abbie Eilers, Jayden Eilers and Maddie Eilers; 18 great-grandchildren; one sister Alice Marx of Norfolk; one brother Bill Halstead of Lynch; one brother-in-law Rex Carson of Lynch; one sister-in-law Janice Halstead of Bloomfield; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kim Lueken in 2001, one daughter Emily Lueken in 1994, one granddaughter Kimmera Stahlecker, one sister Doris Carson and one brother Larry Halstead.