Helen L. Lehman, 81, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita, KS. Born February 20, 1943, in Coldwater, KS, she was the eldest child of Harry and Nellie (Lehl) Lohrding.

Helen was a lifetime resident of Coldwater, KS. She grew up on the family farm south of Coldwater and attended Glendale Country School. She graduated from Coldwater High School in 1961 and attended Southwestern College. That was interrupted when she engaged to marry the love of her life, John Lehman. They married on June 17, 1962, at the Antioch Church in Buttermilk, KS. Last June they celebrated their 62nd anniversary. Helen was never a fan of big celebrations for herself. So in 2012, for their 50th, their kids gave in and didn't throw an anniversary party and instead sent them on a Mississippi River cruise, which was on their bucket list.

In fact, taking trips was one of Helen's favorite activities. She always enjoyed exploring the country and seeing new places. Throughout her life, she visited 48 states, never making it to Alaska or Hawaii although she would have loved to. Helen especially enjoyed when they traveled with their adult children so that the kids could take care of the details and she was just along for the ride.

Helen's favorite pastimes were cooking or baking and sharing her recipes with family and friends. Many here today can attest not only to her joy, but to her skill in cooking, as evidenced by the countless blue and champion ribbons from the county fair—truly too many to count. Her skills first started in the kitchen with her mom; her kids were never sure if that was voluntary or the result of being the oldest. However, in her youth, she did choose cooking in 4-H and later passed the joy on to her kids, as well as future 4- Hers.

Helen spent her career as a florist. After buying the floral shop and greenhouses from Ralph and Thelma Barnhart in 1970, John and Helen attended floral school in Denver. They owned and operated Town and Country Floral in Coldwater for 37 years, retiring in 2006. Her love of flowers was displayed in her arrangements and in her gardening.

Other than being a florist, Helen drove a school bus for U.S.D. 300 for 27 years. She started as a substitute driver, mostly for John, and that later grew into a full-time route driver. Helen also helped John record the weather for the National Weather Service in Coldwater, recently receiving an award for more than 50 years of service.

Helen first attended church at Antioch in Buttermilk, and then Coldwater United Methodist Church. She was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church. She touched the lives of many children as a Sunday School teacher. She also sang in the choir for many years and helped prepare meals with the kitchen ladies.

Helen served as the Comanche County Republican Chairwoman for years; she also served on the board for the Iroquois Center For Human Development and in prior years, the Comanche County Extension Board. Throughout the years, she also helped with Comanche County 4-H and the local scouting groups. Other memberships included Coldwater B.P.W. and Beta Sigma Phi sorority.

Helen liked to spend her time with sewing projects, particularly creating beautiful quilts. She also enjoyed reading, gardening, watching K-State sports and the Kansas City Chiefs, and researching genealogy for every branch of her and John's families. After her kids gave her an iPad, she learned the joys of watching hours of You Tube videos and finding even more recipes to test. But none of those activities could compare to her time spent with family, especially with her two grandkids.

Helen is survived by her husband John Lehman of Hiawatha, KS, recently, of Coldwater, KS; three children: David Lehman, Julie Lehman, and James Lehman and his wife, Daphne; two grandchildren: Sydney and John "Jack" Lehman; three siblings: Ruth Lohrding, Don Lohrding and his wife, Debbie, and Steve Lohrding and his wife, Cindy; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation with family present is from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home in Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service is at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the United Methodist Church in Coldwater, KS, with Pastor Kennedy Mukwindidza presiding. Burial will follow the funeral service at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Coldwater United Methodist Church or Comanche County Hospital Capital Campaign in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.