Obituary for Helen Elaine Fabert

Helen Elaine (Groth) Fabert (aka Toots), 84 was born on December 10, 1938, in Elk Township, Clayton IA, and passed away peacefully on August 29, 2023, at Monona, IA surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was an excellent student and was awarded by her teacher. She was married to Boyd Rodger Fabert at Garnavillo, IA in 1960 and had three children Rodney, Rhonda, and Rosalie. When Helen’s children were young, she worked as a stay-at-home mom and assured good meals, delicious cakes, and cookies. Helen also provided dozens of cookies to her local church for fundraising. Helen loved to read magazines and the Guttenberg Press. She shared her love of reading with her children, assuring that quality literature and reference books were on the family bookcase. 

Helen was a lunchroom substitute for other Seward Grade School, IL moms who could not be there. Later, she worked in food service for the students of Luther College Decorah, IA. Helen was creative with hair styling, ceramics, crafting, decorating special cakes and cookies, and baking.

Please enjoy one of Helen’s classic cookies which were made specially for Boyd, her husband:

Helen’s Date Cookies (for Boyd)
2 cups Shortening 4 cups Brown Sugar
6 eggs (or use 1 Tablespoon ground flax with 3 Tablespoons warm water for each egg)
1 cup Water 2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 pinches salt 2 and 1/8 teaspoons Cinnamon
7 cups flour 2 teaspoons soda powder
Filling 
12-ounce package of Dates, cut up 2 and ¾ cups Sugar
2 and ¾ cups Water 
Cook slowly and add 1 cup of chopped Walnuts
Drop cookie dough by teaspoon. Add a small dollop of the filling on top of the cookie and then another small dollop of the cookie on top of the filling. Bake at 325 to 350 degrees for 12-18 minutes at your preference of cookie texture (softer or crispier). 

Helen is survived by her husband Boyd, their daughters Rhonda Lynn and Rosalie Sue, son Rodney Scott, and six grandchildren. Predeceased were Helen’s parents Orvilda (Liz) Willie Groth and George Groth and her siblings Loretta (Sis), Gerald (Buzz), and Ronald (Butch). Special friends were Jean Ann Strahl, Regina Burr of Clayton, IA, and Opal Adkins of Seward, IL. 

The family requests stories and digital photos of Helen on the comment page here or to fabertr@gmail.com instead of a charity. Information for non-digital items can be requested at the same e-mail. 

There will be plans for a Celebration of Life at a future date.