Mrs. Helen G. Fairbanks

Helen Gertrude Hall Fairbanks, 97, passed peacefully on Friday, October 2, 2015 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born November 19, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas to Frank Rueben Hall and Gertrude Amelia Stadel Hall. She grew up on the family farm near Hoyt, Kansas where she graduated from Hoyt High in 1936. Following high school she attended Stricklers Business School of Topeka, Kansas and was later employed as a telephone operator. Helen was united in marriage to the love of her life, Gustave “Gus” Edmund Fairbanks, on February 22, 1942 in Jackson County Kansas and together they celebrated 63 years of marriage. Most of those years they lived together in Manhattan, Kansas with the exception of the time Gus was deployed during WW II. After the war they lived in Spokane, Washington and returned to Manhattan, Kansas in 1946. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, KSU Social Club, Eastern Star and Manhattan Country Club. Foremost she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be remembered for her ever present smile, the joy she brought to others, willingness to help and strong work ethic. Helen was passionate about family, K-State, cooking, card games and golf. Mrs. Fairbanks was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her only sibling, Frederick Frank Hall, and one grandson, Brian Don Wiruth. She is survived by two sons, David Fairbanks and his wife, Carol, and Steven Fairbanks and his wife, Cathy, both of Stillwater, OK; two daughters, Treva Wiruth and her husband, Don, Tulsa, OK and Mavis Ziegler and her husband, Rick, Maryville, TN; eleven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Services will be Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 612 West Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Kansas. Friends may call at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home from 8:00am to 8:00pm on Monday, October 5, with the family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Kent Kiracofe, Meadowlark Hills Retirement Center, particularly the Honstead House family, Via Christi caretakers and the Good Shepherd Hospice House. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gustave and Helen Fairbanks Scholarship at KSU Foundation, Meadowlark Hills Foundation or First United Methodist Church and may be sent to the funeral home For more information, to send an email condolence or gift visit the funeral homes website at www.irvinparkview.com. Arrangements by Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.