Helen Lorraine Mallette, age 88 of Blair, passed away peacefully December 25, 2021, at Carter Place. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 29, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Blair. Graveside services will follow in the Blair Cemetery. Public viewing will be held Tuesday, December 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Helen was born January 1, 1933, in Blair, to Harold and Hazel Rasmussen. Helen graduated from Blair High School in 1950. In 1951 Helen was named Princess Nebraska for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. The festival information pamphlet described her as “a pert brunette with sparkling hazel eyes”. One Omaha World-Herald story reads “she had Nebraska’s two senators and a congressman fighting over who would pay for her meal.” On August 9, 1953, Helen was united in marriage to Pat Mallette at First Methodist Church of Blair. Helen enjoyed traveling with Pat when he would referee NFL games around the nation. In 1980, Pat and his wife Helen became co-owners of the Driftwood Inn for 15 years. She enjoyed ballroom dancing but especially loved the true highlights of her life, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pat, daughter Crystal, daughter-in-law Janet, brother Don Rasmussen.
She is Survived by her children, daughter Lori (Merle) Hansen, son Patrick Mallette, grandchildren, Mandy (Mike) Giles, Haley (Christian) Jacobson, Katy (Jake) VanNoy, Melissa (Brian) Rushing, Becky (Andy) Max, PJ (Cassie) Mallette, and Michael Mallette, 15 great-grandchildren, Cora, Ellis, Oliver, Clara, Jackson, Josie, Calina, Hope, Chase, Celissa, Leo, Harper, Whitt, Jemma, and Hannah, brother Bill Rasmussen and sister Opal (Jack) Jensen.
