Mineral Point - Helen M. Tibbits, age 95, a lifelong Mineral Point area resident, died on Monday, June 17, 2013, at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville.

She was born on January 12, 1918 in Mineral Point, the daughter of Frank and Bertha (Perry) Clauer. She attended Oak Park Grade School and graduated from Mineral Point High School in 1934. She married James (Jim) Tibbits on June 21, 1939 at the Peniel Church in the Welsh settlement in rural Rewey.

Jim and Helen farmed in the Linden township from the time they were married. In 1945, they purchased the first family farm carrying on the family farming tradition that began on that farm in 1880. In 1967, they purchased the second family farm, which had been a family farm since 1868. She was very proud that her sons continued the family farming tradition that began over 145 years ago.

She was a former member on the Mifflin and Iowa County Homemakers and the Peniel Ladies Aid. She was a current member of the Mineral Point United Church of Christ, the Women's Fellowship, the Mineral Point Rebekah Lodge, and served as a volunteer at the Mineral Point Care Center. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family, playing cards, and her trips to Dubuque with friends and family.

Helen was a kind, caring, and tenderhearted person whose family and friends were the most important thing to her.

Helen is survived by her three children, Sharon (Jerry) Ewers of Cottage Grove, Jerry (Trudy) Tibbits and Rick (Melodie) Tibbits of Mineral Point, as well as her 10 grandchildren; Krista (Brian) Ewers-Hayes, Kara (Scott Sorenson) Ewers, Tim (Amy) Tibbits, Mike (Jenny) Tibbits, Brad Tibbits, Justin (Ashley Tonkin) Tibbits, and Taylor, Jordan, Brady, and Carly Tibbits; and great-grandchildren Alex Hayes, Jimmy, Jaycee, Breanna and Hunter Tibbits; and many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, on May 26, 1977; her granddaughter Jenna Tibbits, on June 24, 1986, three sisters Elizabeth Palzkill, Gladys Sporle, and Verna Schult, and three brothers Earl, Francis, and Clifford Clauer.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2013 at the CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST in Mineral Point. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Pastors Daniel Yeazel and Beryl Belcher will officiate. A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2013 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:00 until 10:50 a.m. at the CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST in Mineral Point.

Memorials may be made to the Mineral Point United Church of Christ or the Mineral Point Rescue Squad.

She will always be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, good friend and a women who brought joy to many. She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten. She'll remain in our hearts forever