Freda Helm, 92, of Great Falls, Mont., formerly of Anamoose, passed away Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at Benefis Extended Care Center in Great Falls.

Freda Rauschenberger, daughter of Gottlieb and Katie (Jeske) Rauschenberger, was born July 30, 1917, on her parents' farm near Kief. She attended country schools before her parents moved into Kief. When Freda was 12 years old, her parents were asked by Mr. and Mrs. John Mantz of Anamoose to allow Freda to come and live and work for them. With nine other children at home, her parents agreed that this would be beneficial to her and accepted the Mantz's invitation. Freda was grateful for everything that she learned while in the Mantz's household and became a very good cook. However, she still remained in close contact with her family the entire time.

Freda attended Anamoose Public School, graduating from Anamoose High School in 1937. Following her graduation, she was employed as a telephone operator in Anamoose.

On Sept. 22, 1940, Freda was united in marriage to Elard E. Helm at the John Mantz residence. They made their home in Anamoose, where she continued working as a telephone operator until 1952, when she began working as head cook for the Anamoose Public School hot lunch program, a position she held for 24 years. She was amazed at how many students from the school came up to her several years after she retired and told her how much they missed the good meals she prepared. They also told her they would always remember her as being their favorite cook.

After Freda and Elard retired, they continued to live in Anamoose. Elard passed away July 20, 1997. In November 2000, Freda moved to Great Falls where her daughter and son-in-law, Bev and Ralph Follinglo, reside. She was a resident of Benefis Extended Care Center.

Freda enjoyed cooking, baking and working with flowers. She had a knack for growing begonias and each summer she had several visitors stop and ask if they were actually real flowers. They wanted to know her "secret" to getting them to bloom so prolifically.

Freda was a member of the Anamoose Baptist Church, which later became the consolidated United Community Baptist Church. Her church and her Lord were extremely important and evident in her life. She also thoroughly enjoyed being with her family and friends. We will all miss her wonderful sense of humor, her laughter and warm smile.

Freda is survived by: her daughter, Bev (Ralph) Follinglo, of Great Falls; her daughter-in-law, Irene Helm, of Wenatchee, Wash.; two grandsons, Mark (Gracie) Helm of Wenatchee, and Darren (Cassie) Helm, of Liberty Lake, Wash.; five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Gilbert (Lu) Rauschenberger, of Bismarck; and one sister, Emma (Woodrow) Hamers, of Bismarck.

Freda was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Allen, in 1979; her parents; three sisters, Linda Isaak, Rosella Hoff and Ida Isaak; and four brothers, Johnny, Harold, Bill and Leonard Rauschenberger.

Freda's family would like to thank the United Community Baptist Church congregation for their faithfulness in keeping Freda in their prayers and for all the cards they sent throughout the years.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the United Community Baptist Church.

Funeral: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the United Community Baptist Church in Anamoose.

Burial: Anamoose Baptist Cemetery.

Visitation: Monday, one hour prior to the funeral, at the church.

Arrangements with Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake.