Helen Ivetta Degarmo

Helen Ivetta DeGarmo passed away in her home at Primrose Retirement Community in Wasilla, Alaska on July 2, 2024, just one week shy of her 96th birthday. Helen was born July 9, 1928, to Earl Thomas Darnell and Ava Bernice Irwin Darnell on their family farm outside of Bogue, Kansas. She graduated from Palco High School in 1946 and attended business college in Kansas. She then went to work in the Employment Office in Goodland, KS where she met her future husband, Ronald DeGarmo of Macksville, Kansas. Ron worked for the FAA for 37yrs and was known as Grandpa Ron. Helen and Ron were married September 13, 1953, in Goodland and celebrated their 55th anniversary before Ron's death in 2009. They moved many times during their years together. From Kansas they moved to Muskegon, MI and then to Kansas City, MO where son Kevin was born; Oklahoma City, OK where daughter Janice was born; Atlantic City, N.J. where daughter Jennifer was born; back to Oklahoma, then to Longmont, CO; Anchorage, AK, Renton, WA, Bellingham, WA and finally retiring in Wasilla, AK in 2003.

Helen worked for many years as a teacher's aide in Colorado and Anchorage and worked in the business office at Providence Hospital in Anchorage for several years. After moving to Wasilla, she delivered bananas twice a week to her family's Valley Country Stores and became well known as "The Banana Lady!" She also enjoyed her weekly job of wrapping coins for the store’s laundromats.

Helen was a wonderful cook and enjoyed baking pies for all her family's birthdays. Her pie crusts were beyond compare! She was the ultimate homemaker and hostess, but her greatest joy was being a mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived for her family and always had hugs, Mentos and Crèmesicles for everyone. She loved attending all the kids' recitals and sporting events and spent many hours playing Yahtzee and cards with her family and friends (and usually beat us all)!

Helen was a 32-year breast cancer survivor and participated in the Alaska Run for Women for more than 20 years, raising funds for breast cancer research. Helen was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and loved attending her Thursday morning coffees with the church ladies. She volunteered for many years washing bedding when her church hosted Mat-Su Family Promise. She also attended Lamb of God Lutheran Church and King's Chapel at Primrose with Pastor Becky. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was confident of her salvation.

Helen is survived by her children: Kevin DeGarmo (Andrea), Janice Gittlein (Ken), Jennifer Schaffer (Dan) and honorary Japanese exchange student daughter Kiyoko Matsuura; grandchildren: Nick (Katie), Matt, Ben (Haliegh) and Sam (Alena) Gittlein; Leah (Sean) and Ronald DeGarmo; Elise, Brad and Nicole Schaffer; Garett Koskovich and honorary grandson Brian (Rachel) Gittlein; great-grandchildren Devin, Kaydence, Paxton, Presly, Wyatt, Sebastian, Eleanor, Kelci, Everly, Lucas, Blair and Julian Gittlein. She was also "Grandma Helen" to many, many others!

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ron; brothers Bill, Ernest and Gary Darnell; and sisters Hope Denton, Marjorie Oliver and Maxine Campbell.

A memorial service for both Helen and Ron will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 10AM at the Morlan Township Cemetery in Graham County. A gathering will follow at Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill in Hays, Kansas until 5:30PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Family Promise Mat-Su ( fpm-su.com )

Alaska Run for Women ( akrfwregistration.org/donate )

Christ First United Methodist Church – Wasilla

and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663