BELKE, Helen Elizabeth

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, July 31, 2010 Helen (nee Rahaley) Belke, 61, of St. Joseph, Mich., formerly of Chino Valley, Ariz., passed away, July 29, 2010, at Orchard Grove Extended Care following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. A funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph with Rev. Martin Measel officiating. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Helen was born on Feb. 12, 1949, in Detroit, Mich., to parents Paul and Betty (Forner) Rahaley. She graduated in 1967 from Our Lady of Mercy High School in Farmington Hills. Helen graduated with a degree in theater arts from Eastern Michigan University. Helen taught briefly for the Dearborn and Westland School Districts. She then traveled to live in Cologne, Germany, for a total of five years. Helen taught English to German students. Fluent in German, she was later employed by the Volkswagen Automotive Company. Upon returning to the United States, Helen moved to Prescott, Ariz., where she married Wayne and resided in Chino Valley until 2000 when they returned to St. Joseph, Mich. Helen loved the theater; she performed in community theaters, and also directed many high school plays. She also loved working in her rose garden. She was survived by her loving husband of 19 1/2 years, Wayne Belke; her sisters, Nancy Hawley and Mary (Dean) Anderson; her nieces and nephews Michael Karpus, Kathleen Karpus and Ryan Rahaley; and former sister-in-law Laura (Rod) Cebulski. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Elizabeth Rahaley, and her brother Patrick Rahaley. Information provided by survivors.