Helen Pont

Helen P. Pont passed away Friday, October 10, 2014, at the age of 99 years and 12 days. The Griswold Care Center had been her home for over 2 years.

Helen Priscilla Mountain was born on September 28, 1915, on a farm southwest of Cumberland, Iowa, the daughter of Wray and Dora (Andersen) Mountain. She was the fourth child of a family of eleven. Her family moved to Colorado in 1921, and she started school in Hyde, Colorado. In 1932, she graduated from Otis High School. Following graduation she returned to Iowa for a visit and decided to make it home. On October 23, 1935, she married Martin Jethro (Jake) Pont in Yuma, Colorado. To this union three children were born David, Rita and Carole.

The couple lived in four different neighborhoods and made many friends. Following their marriage they lived in Griswold for a short time before moving southeast of Lewis in 1936, where they farmed. In 1946, they moved north of Wiota, and a few years later in 1949, they made home on a farm south of Walnut. A short time later they moved three miles southwest of Cumberland. In 1971, they made their home at the Pont family home in Griswold. Helen was an amazing farm wife who did all the gardening, chicken raising, egg gathering, chicken dressing and when her work was done outside it was time to move inside to do the cooking, canning and cleaning. She was proud of her flower gardens, and shared their beauty at church services during the summer months. When Jake went to work in 1967 for Dahl Air Conditioning Helen traveled with him and volunteered at hospitals, nursing homes, and any other place that needed help. While at home she volunteered at the Griswold Care Center. Her work at the nursing home included watering flowers, playing the piano for sing-alongs, and helping residents write letters, eat and play Bingo. Her hard work was recognized in 1981, when she received the Good Neighbor Citation by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. This award was given for her unselfish and charitable deeds exemplifying the good neighbor spirit of the Midwest. In 1980, her volunteer work was awarded again by the Veterans Administration for her volunteer services at the Veteran's Hospital in Knoxville, IA.

Helen will be remembered by many for her ability to serve a meal at the drop of a hat. After Jake and Helen retired in Griswold, they loved to have visitors, make apple cider and feed the birds. Her love of chocolate was something you figured out very quickly because if you went to visit her the first thing she would ask was whether you brought any.

Helen is survived by her son, David (Donna) Pont of Guttenburg, IA; daughters, Rita Rohde of Ida Grove, IA, and Carole Schuler of Atlantic, IA; grandchildren, Brian (Valarie) Pont of Dysart, IA, Marty (Brandi) Pont of Guttenburg, IA, Michael Dasher of Corning, IA, Kyle (Barry Newton) Dasher of Lenox, IA, Amy (Scott) Snyder of Des Moines, IA, Chris Schuler of West Des Moines, IA, Sara (Jesse) Hooge of Worthington, MN, Jon (Amie) Schuler of Des Moines, IA, and John Rice, husband of the late Lee Ann Rice; great-grandchildren, Angela (Aaron) Reed, Aaron (Lalaine) Thiese, Amber Thiese, Kaitlyn Pont, Mason Sieverding, Myah Pont, Brexton Pont, David N. Pont, Michael Pont, Charles Pont, Cara Pont, Emily Pont, Alex, Daniel and Grace Snyder, Jakeb, Christian, Joshua and Caleb Hooge, and Payton and Kendall Jo Schuler; great-great-grandchildren, Kaleigh and Kaleb Reed; sisters, Elva Dexter and Donna Cooley; brother, Edward Mountain; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Wray and Dora Mountain; husband, Jake; granddaughter, Lee Ann Rice; brothers, Bert and Walter; sisters, Waunita Brown, Marion Davis, Dorothy Gisi, Margie Shannon and Phoebe Black; and son-in-law, Bob Rohde.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 16, 2014, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, with Pastor Leon Hodges officiating.

Committal services will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, Iowa. Following services at the cemetery a luncheon will be held at Roland Funeral Home.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Helen's family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com


IN REMEMBRANCE OF

Helen P. Pont

BORN
September 28, 1915
Cumberland, Iowa

ENTERED INTO REST
Friday, October 10, 2014
At the age of
99 years & 12 days
Griswold, Iowa

CELEBRATION OF LIFE
10:00 A.M., Thursday, October 16, 2014
Roland Funeral Home- Atlantic, Iowa

OFFICIANT
Pastor Leon Hodges

MUSICIAN
Heidi Hinman

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Jesus Loves Me”
“May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”

CASKET BEARERS
Brian Pont
Marty Pont
Mike Dasher
Amy Snyder
Chris Schuler
Sara Hooge
Jon Schuler

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Karl & Lorene Aldag
Gene & Penny Pont
Sharon Bishop
Richard Gisi
Loma Mountain
Jim Mountain
Joe Black
Ivan Lynch
Larry Steffen


INTERMENT
Oakwood Cemetery
Lewis, Iowa