Helen Marie (Benesh) Rupe, 95 of Swisher, Iowa passed away on June 22, 2026, at the Hiawatha Care Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Monday, June 29, 2026, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW. Celebration of Life service will be at 1 p.m. at Brosh Chapel. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery, Tipton.

Helen was born April 26, 1931, in the Snaggy Ridge area, rural Cedar County, the daughter of George and Rosa (Hoy) Benesh. On August 4, 1952, she married William H. Rupe in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Helen knew scarcity, she was born during the Dust Bowl, grew up during The Great Depression and patiently waited for Bill to come home from WWII. The couple resided in Cedar Rapids until 1959 when they moved to rural Swisher, Iowa. In the early days, Bill and Helen traveled to nearly all 50 states and enjoyed boating and fishing. Bill could catch just about anything, and Helen could make a meal of it. From catfish (Bohemie salmon) to snapping turtle to muskrat – Helen had a recipe. Over the years she worked at Killian’s Department Store in downtown Cedar Rapids wrapping packages to be mailed and operating the store’s elevator. In later years she worked in the office for Tom Mann Trucking.

Helen was a devoted wife and homemaker who loved to garden, cook, and sit fellowshipping with friends and family around her kitchen table. With no children of her own, Helen played “second mom” to four generations of neighborhood kids. The door was always open; the coffee pot was always on, and the cookies were always about to come out of the oven. She explained and showed how things were made, like Root beer, Ice Cream, snow cream and lots more. You could ask her any question or tell her about things; you always had her undivided attention. Combine the neighborhood kids with all her nieces and nephews, and Helen was always on her way to share in special events like birthdays, graduations and weddings.

They say it takes a village and this was especially true for Helen as she got up in years. From neighbors who shared her dusty gravel road to friends who traveled from near and far to family who always landed at her house on Easter – Helen had a village of caring and concerned “family” who each showed love and affection for her in their own unique way. Thank you to each of you that took the time to brighten her day.

In the end, though, nothing brought Helen more joy than Sammy, her beautiful, well-fed, black cat. Even on her worst day, Sammy could bring a twinkle to her eye...when none of the rest of us could.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Bill Rupe. Parents: George and Rosa (Hoy) Benesh; siblings: Elmer Lee Benesh, Mary Lou (Benesh) Kindler; cousins: Frances Benesh, Glen Lovell, Paul Lovell, Betty (Lovell) McCormick; nephews, Donald Rupe-Viet Nam, Gary Rupe, Donald Bartling Jr. Cpl- Medic Iraq, John Kindler, Donald Bartling Sr. Nieces: Alicia (Franks) Polum, Tierney (Randy) Benesh.

Helen is survived by her many nieces, nephews, greats, and great-greats, special friends and neighbors. She will be greatly missed by nieces & nephews: Brenda and Earl Rupe Tipton; Geraldine Kindler, Richard L. Kindler; Solon, Brenda Bartling (David Miron) Ishpeming, MI.; Paulette (Bruce) Kmetz, Hiawatha; Ron (Mary) Benesh, Randy Benesh, Tami Conner, Cedar Rapids; Debi Benesh Rock Island & Joby Campbell (Coralville); Greats: Justin (Hailey) Bartling, Mechanicsville; Teah (Zachary) Hays- Kolbie & Cooper, West Branch; Summer (Brandon)- Richard & the boys, Saginaw, Michigan.; Roselyn (Andy) Morgan- Landon, Audrey, Norah, Altoona; Joe (Kari) Kmetz,- Quinn & Leo, Roeland Park, Kansas.; Amanda Benesh- Aryana, Cedar Rapids; Jo Ann (Jason) Lynch - Jaylee & Jordy, North Liberty; Kymberlee Schumacher, Hailey (Ryan) Lantau, Davenport;

Many special friends, too numerous to mention, but a special appreciation to George Grunewald, Bill Singlinger, Rocky Zahn and Allie Ziskovsky.

Memorials may be directed to the family.