Helen B. Koch, 84, of Axtell, KS, died Sunday, January 27, 2002, at Country View Estates care home in Seneca. She had been a resident there since April 2001.

She was born August 17, 1917, on a farm north of Baileyville, KS, the daughter of John G. and Mary Barbara Jordon Hulsing. She grew up there, attended Sacred Heart School and helped on the family farm.

On January 19, 1937, she married Vincent P. Koch at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. They lived and farmed north of Baileyville until 1958 when they moved to a farm northwest of Axtell. In 1968 they moved into Axtell where she and her husband were custodians at St. Michael’s Church from 1968 to 1983. They were also custodians for St. Michael’s School from June 1974 to June 1990. Helen and Vince celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries and had been married 64 years when he died March 26, 2001.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Church and the St. Michael’s Guild at the church in Axtell. She was a former member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville.

Survivors are seven sons, John Koch of Baileyville, Francis Koch of Holton, KS, Ralph Koch, Leroy Koch, Carl Koch, Roger Koch, all of Axtell, and Michael Koch of Lindsborg, KS; seven daughters, Verita Schmitz of Baileyville, Edna Lackey, Alice Porting and JoAnn Porting, all of Axtell, Mary Kramer of Grand Junction, CO, Barbara Korte of Goff, KS, and Sharon Skalla of Beattie, KS; two brothers, Anthony “Tony” Hulsing of Seneca and John Paul Hulsing of Baileyville; a sister Rosemary Schmitz of Seneca; 47 grandchildren; several stepgrandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a three-month-old daughter, Cecelia Koch on December 19, 1947; a grandson, Bradley Koch on March 10, 1985; three brothers, Raphael, Nicholas and Francis Hulsing; and a sister, Barbara Deters.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Thursday, January 31, at St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. She will lie in state at the church for one hour before the services. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Baileyville. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Michael’s Church or St. Michael’s School, and sent in care of the family.