Helen Bickett

Helen Elaine Bickett, 86, passed away Nov. 17, 2019, in her home in Princeton, with her family at her side, after succumbing to a 17-month struggle with meningiomas (benign brain tumors).

A visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday in Norberg Memorial Home, Princeton. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home, officiated by Pastor Gary Brooks.

Helen was born July 18, 1933, in New Bedford to Lloyd and Valpa (Krone) Spratt. She graduated from Princeton High School in 1951. She married the late Richard Bickett on Jan. 30, 1954, in Princeton.

She was a farmer’s wife for more than 60 years. She also had several jobs over the years, including at General Electric in DeKalb, Sundstrand in La Salle, Pioneer Hybrid, Harper-Wyman, Citizens Bank, Illinois Valley Shopping News and Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton.

Helen was a member of United Methodist Church in Malden, as well as Women of the Moose, Elks Lodge and Home Extension in Princeton. She was a founding and charter member of Covered Bridge Quilters Guild.

She had a lovely voice, and sang at many weddings and funerals, various talent shows, Princeton Community Choir and a number of Homestead Festival plays. She enjoyed writing poetry, prose and newspaper articles, quilting, drawing, and most importantly watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.

Helen is survived by her children, daughters Kelly Bickett (Fred Kimberley) of rural Malden, Kris Ferrari (Tony Dye) of Princeton and Kani Bopes of Princeton; son, Kim (Deborah) Bickett of rural Princeton; her grandchildren, Alison Ferrari, Lauren Ferrari, Tyler Bickett, Kyle (Dana) Bickett, Larissa (Greg) Pinter, Zachary Bopes, Mason Kimberley, Vaughn Kimberley and Zia Kimberley; her great-grandchildren, Garrett, Tessa, Cadience, Addilyn, Riley, Brynleigh, Levi and Waylon; and her sisters, Leona Cadie of DeKalb and Verla Holder of Mesa, Ariz.

Preceded in death by her husband Richard in 2007.

Memorials may be directed to United Methodist Church of Malden.

Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.