Helen Frances (Braun) Werth

She was a mother so very rare, content in her home and always there.

On earth she toiled, in Heaven she rests, God bless you Mother, you were one of the best.

Helen Frances (Braun) Werth

Helen Frances (Braun) Werth, 90, Hays, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2024, at Hays Medical Center with her family by her side.

She was born on the family farm west of Victoria on June 25, 1933, to Frank J. and Helen (Brungardt) Braun. As a young child, she moved to the Braun Dairy Farm north of Hays, and enjoyed working along-side her family and participating in 4-H. She was a very proud 1951 alumna of Girls Catholic High School and remained lifelong friends with her classmates. After graduating Helen worked as a secretary at Jefferson West until marriage.

Helen married the love of her life Clifford James Werth at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays on October 6, 1952. They shared 67 wonderful years of marriage and were proud of the life they built together. Early in their marriage they resided in Great Bend, KS and then lived in Russell, KS, where she worked for the Avon Company.

She and Cliff moved backed to Hays and in 1968 established Hays Car and Truck Alignment. Never wanting to retire, she worked at “the shop” until the age of 78. Helen never turned down an opportunity to have some fun; she was proud to attend her children and grandchildren’s events, and she cherished the time she had watching them grow up. Helen was gracious in all ways and loved her family, friends, and her God. Many a day was spent in the kitchen preparing the best meals and always extending invitations to come, eat and visit. Her favorite hobbies included: cooking, traveling, retail therapy (never a bad day of shopping), raising flower gardens, attending cabin get-togethers, and playing the one-arm bandits with Cliff. As fun as those hobbies were though, Helen always said, “She was happiest at home with her family.”

In her last weeks at Via Christi, she lapsed back in time and dreamed about going out-of-town shopping, she said witty things to her children and nurses, and she had an amazing knack for knowing what her family was talking about. We always knew Mom had eyes in the back of her head; little did we know she had such extraordinary hearing for someone without her hearing aids.

She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and a lifetime member of the Daughters of Isabella.  Helen (Bape) was an eternal optimist who always looked for the goodness in life, and she trusted in God for His guidance every day. Heaven truly gained a beautiful spirit. 

Helen is survived by six children, fifteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and two sisters-in-law.  

Robert Werth (Silvana) and son Travis Werth.

Jim Werth (Susan) and daughters: Erica (Brett) Bittel and their children Eleanor and Frances Bittel, Amy (Dave) Evans and their children Charles and Patrick Evans, and Kelsey (Sam) Bailey and their sons Emmett and Sullivan Bailey.

Kay Gottschalk (Gene) and their children: Aaron Gottschalk (Julie) and their children Lydia and Uriah Hoag. Clint Gottschalk (Cristan) and their children Trinity and Maya Gottschalk and Holly Gottschalk.

Dick Werth (Kay) and their sons: Preston Werth (Macy) and their daughter Colette Werth, and Austin Werth. 

Dave Werth (Debbie) and their sons: Brandon Werth (Amanda) and their children Sadie and Connor Werth. Matthew Werth (Jen) and their sons Bladyn and Bodhi Werth, and Cory Werth and Tyler Werth. 

Tim Werth (Sandee) and their children: Collin Werth and Tanner Werth.

Sisters-in-law: Jacky Braun and Mary Jo Braun 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clifford J. Werth (Dec.12, 2019), her granddaughter Shelly Lynn Werth, her brothers Marvin, Francis (Frankie) and Robert (Bobby) Braun and her sister LaVerna Younger.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap., Fr. Alvin Werth, and Fr. Don Zimmerman officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 am until service time on Friday, all at the church.  A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Thursday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church building fund, St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi Village, HaysMed Hospice, or to TMP Endowment.  Funeral arrangements are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Helen may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com      

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