Helen R. Ultican

Helen R. Ultican, 87, passed away on January 8, 2006 at St. Mary�s Manor nursing home in Blue Springs. Helen was born March 18, 1918 at Gladstone, Michigan to Jesse Griffin Denio and Rose (Oleson) Denio. She was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on July 18, 1926 at Gladstone, Michigan. Helen graduated from Gladstone High School in 1936. Church work and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ were the central focus of her life. Over the years she held a variety of responsibilities including church school teacher, choir member, church school director and women�s department leader. Later she joined the Covenant Church of Jesus Christ. Helen had a lifelong enjoyment of music including piano, organ and voice. In 2000 Helen published her memoirs entitled "God Is So Good To Me!�
In 1941 she met her future husband while engaged in youth work for the Minneapolis RLDS branch. She was married to Roger R. Lundeen from October 11, 1947 until his death on June 11, 1973. They had two children: Barbara Roker of Lincoln, Nebraska and Robert Lundeen of Lee�s Summit, Missouri. After Roger�s death she moved in 1974 to McAllen, Texas where she was a librarian at the McAllen Public Library. In 1980 she moved back to Blue Springs to be closer to her family. Through her granddaughter Elizabeth�s enrollment in Gibson Pre-school, she met Thomas J. Ultican. They were married on July 21, 1984 at Blue Springs, Missouri. Helen and Tom shared a passion for travel and presenting the Book of Mormon. They traveled widely across North America and made two overseas trips to Israel where she developed a deep affection for the Jewish people. Thomas J. Ultican died November 17, 1995 in Blue Springs, Missouri. The 1990�s found Helen actively engaged on behalf of Qumran Quest for which she was Treasurer. She was preceded in death by her husbands Roger R. Lundeen and Thomas J. Ultican; parents Jesse G. Denio and Rose (Oleson) Denio; brother Roy Denio; and sisters Alma King and Irene Braun. She is survived by her daughter Barbara Roker of Lincoln, Nebraska; son Robert Lundeen and daughter-in-law Gail Lundeen of Lee�s Summit, Missouri; brother James Denio and sister-in-law Frances Denio of Blue Springs, Missouri; granddaughter Melanie and her husband Wyatt Luenenborg and great-granddaughter Ava Jo Luenenborg of San Ramon, California; granddaughter Elizabeth Lundeen of New Canaan, Connecticut; and grandson Kyle Lundeen of Lee�s Summit, Missouri. Memorial services will be held at 7:30 p.m. on January 11, 2006 at the Colonial Hills Community of Christ Church 3539 South Seven Highway Blue Springs, Missouri. Burial at Blue Springs Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Qumran Quest P.O. Box 127 Blue Springs, Missouri 64013.