Lilly Diersen Helmbrecht, age 93, of Lytton, Iowa, passed away on Monday, January 14, 2008, at Park View Care Center in Sac City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 17th, at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton with Rev. Wayne Pfannkuch officiating. Burial will be at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City.

Lilly Catherina Fredericka Schwartz was born on January 25, 1914, the daughter of Ludwig and Maria (Hillmer) Schwartz in Cedar Township, Sac County, Iowa.

She received Holy Baptism April 25, 1915, by Pastor Herbst. In the Rite of confirmation, she confessed Jesus Christ as her only Lord and Savior on April 10, 1927, by Pastor R. C. Dahlke in the south Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lytton, Iowa. Lilly attended Lytton Consolidated School and graduated with the class of 1933.

On April 4, 1935, Lilly was united in marriage to Alvin Diersen at the Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church by Pastor H. C. Gold. To this union was born two children: Donald and Donita. Alvin passed away on April 30, 1975.

During this time Lilly was a Sunday School teacher for six years, Lytton Telephone Operator for five years, and worked in the kitchen for ten years at Loring Hospital in Sac City. Lilly was the cleaning lady at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church at Lytton for several years where she was a member. She was also a member of several church groups, the Ladies Aid, Dorcas Circle and the S.O.S Club.
On June 16, 1977, Lilly was united in marriage to Walter Helmbrecht. They made their home in Lytton. Walter passed away in 1987.

She is survived by her daughter, Donita Johanson and her husband Bud of Gowrie, IA; daughter-in-law, Betty Diersen of Fort Dodge, IA; three grandchildren: Kellie (Tim) Guderian, Doug (Sandy) Johanson, and Barbara (Dale) Wetherell; four great-grandchildren: Ryan Johanson, Rebecca Wetherell, Adam Johanson, and Ben Wetherell; and many other relatives and friends.

Lilly was preceded in death by her parents, Ludwig and Maria Schwartz; husbands: Alvin Diersen and Walter Helmbrecht; son Donald Diersen; five sisters: Emma in infancy, Tillie Everts, Clara Schwartz, Mary Smidt, and Bernadine Jettre; two brothers: one in infancy and Fred Schwartz.