Helen Friend Obituary

Helen Rae Friend, 87, of Bergman, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, 2025, in Harrison. As family held her hand, Helen spent her last moments of life knowing she was dearly loved as the angels of Heaven took her to be with the Lord.

Helen was born on June 16, 1938, in Marion County, Arkansas, to Clarence and Imagene Slagley DeVore. She attended school at the old Jaybird Schoolhouse in Marion County until the 8th grade. She also attended church services at that same schoolhouse as a child. In 1955, at age 17, Helen married 21-year-old L. D. Friend, and they were blessed with two sons and one daughter. Helen was always known to be a hard worker and early on helped her husband on farms picking cherries and apples in Washinton seasonally. During the off-season she was a homemaker while L. D. worked construction. In 1968, while the family of five was picking fruit in Washington, Helen would find out that her six-year-old daughter had terminal brain cancer which took her young life only a few months later. Helen was always a Christian woman, but the death of her little girl brought her even closer to God and ever since then she always strived to live a life in a way that was pleasing to God. Helen believed that she would be with her little girl again one day when she made it to heaven. Helen was one of those people that had an unshakable faith in God, and she was never afraid to praise Jesus anywhere she was throughout her life. She used to sing gospel hymns and play her guitar at the White Oak Church where she attended regularly with her husband L. D. Anyone that knew Helen knew that she loved Jesus and jewelry; and her life was never lacking in either.

In 1977, Helen helped her husband L. D. to establish Friend Orchards when they planted their first orchards. She later opened "The Apple House" in north Harrison and eventually she opened the fruit market in Bellefonte that she owned and worked at for many years along with a cattle farming operation along with Friend Orchards. Helen was an amazing cook and would feed you whether you were hungry or not, especially chicken and dumplings as well as biscuits and gravy. Helen loved her family fiercely and she would go to the ends of the earth for them. She would also let you know real quick if she didn't like something; she was honest and never held back much. Helen was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister. She was also the type of mother-in-law that loved more like a mom and a true best friend to all who knew her heart. She will be dearly missed by everyone that had her in their life. Helen was preceded in death by her father; her mother and stepfather, Imagene and Orfice Shelton; a daughter, Eldena Friend; and her husband of 61 years, L. D. Friend.

Helen is survived by two sons and their wives, Rocky and Wanda Friend and Rick and Judy Friend, all of Bergman; seven grandchildren, Lori Williams, Eric Friend and former wife, Tiffanie, Amy Hagler and her husband, Jason, Kim Friend, Jessie Ebey, Hannah Friend, and James Altus; two bonus granddaughters, Amanda and Jessica; 13 great-grandchildren, Dylan, Jess, Harley, Cash, Jaci, Dixon, Trenton, Macy, Emmit, Jacey, Junior, Maverick, Sawyer Rose; seven bonus great-grandchildren, Hunter, Waylon, Lane, Tater, Addie, Klohe, and Lyzah; a sister, Wanda Haney of Bergman; and other relatives and friends.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at White Oak Church at Bergman, with the Rev. Leo Dye officiating. Burial will be in York Cemetery at Bergman under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Haney, Fred Haney, Bo Jones, Larry DeVore, Joe DeVore, and Ron Kirsh. Honorary pallbearers will be the nurses and staff of The Springs at Mt. Vista.

Visitation will be prior to the service at 1 p.m. at the church.

The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.HoltChapel.com.