Richard Helvey, 77, of Johnson Lake, Nebraska, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
Richard (Dick) Dennis Helvey was born December 13, 1945, in Lexington, Nebraska, to Wilbur and Adelaide (Naviaux) Helvey. He attended North 17 grade school and graduated from St. Ann’s High School in Lexington with the class of 1964. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1968 with degrees in math and accounting and was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
Dick served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as an accountant and was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. After college, he was a bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury Department. Later he was an accomplished banker, entrepreneur, and real estate investor.
He married Carol Jean White from Ulysses, Nebraska on June 12, 1970, at the Kearney State College Campus Newman Center. They were the parents of Dori Anne, Jason Thaine, and Carmen Elizabeth. They raised their family in Lexington and moved to Johnson Lake in 2014. Dick and CJ both loved evenings with friends at Dance Club and playing cards. When their kids were young, many summer weekends were spent camping, canoeing and teaching the kids to water ski. They also enjoyed many trips to the mountains with friends where he spent countless hours teaching the kids to snow ski. Later, many fun days were spent teaching his eleven grandkids a variety of things from picking up sticks and branches for pennies to the importance of how to take care of vehicles and other household items.
He was incredibly involved in his community. His involvement included serving in various roles in the St. Ann’s Catholic Church parish community, Lexington Housing Authority Board of Directors, Lexington Council for Economic Development, Dawson County Veterans Service Board, Johnson Lake Area Development Board, Greater Nebraska Workforce Development Board, Sunridge Homeowners Association Board, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as other community organizations.
Dick always had a trick to show, a story to tell, and a joke to make you laugh. He made the world a better place for his family, community, and the less fortunate among us. He had an innate kinship with and devotion to other victims of spinal cord injury. His life exemplified and raised the bar on overcoming adversity.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Adelaide; mother-in-law, Anita (Cordes) White; father-in-law, Morris White; younger brother, Al; brother-in-law, Con Ogden; and brother-in-law, Don White.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Jean of Johnson Lake; daughter, Dori Moomey and her husband, Travis, of Kearney; son, Dr. Jason Helvey and his wife, Sarah, of Omaha; daughter Carmen Pleskac and her husband, Steven, of Fremont; sister, Marjorie Ogden of Littleton, CO; and his grandchildren: Hallett and his wife, Sophie Moomey, Phillip Moomey, Jillian Moomey, Camille Moomey, Marigold Helvey, Marley Helvey, Wesley Pleskac, Lucia Pleskac, Jaxon Pleskac, Derek Pleskac, and Rosalie Pleskac. He is also survived by a niece, Laurie; nephew, Brett; aunt, Sr. Mary Helena Naviaux; and many other dear relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington with Father Jose Chavez officiating. Mass will be live - streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Facebook page.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Burial with Full Military Honors will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
