Rev. Norman H. Helton

Reverend Norman H. Helton went to his heavenly home on Sunday, March 24, 2024, after a long illness. He was born in Mound City, Illinois on February 1, 1946. He grew up in Olmstead, Illinois, as the third son of Charles David and Bessie Elois (Sheppard) Helton. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1964. He retired after 21 years as a Senior NCO. He served on four tours in Germany for a total of twelve years. He served stateside in Fort Riley, Kansas, Fitsimmons Army Medical Center in Colorado, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and in Illinois as an Army Recruiter. He graduated with a degree in Sociology and worked as a drug and alcohol counselor for the Army. He served in Germany during the Vietnam War and again in Germany during Desert Storm. In his own words, “He was proud to serve his country in the military and in making it a career.” He was a retired Baptist pastor and had graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1971. He was twenty-one when he started preaching. He served in churches in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, South Carolina, and Illinois. Norm was proud of his Cherokee heritage. Among which was Chief Richard Fox Taylor, born in 1788 in Tennessee. Chief Richard Fox Taylor served in the military service of 1814 (Creek War) with Capt. Gidion Morgan Cherokee Volunteers. He was a conductor in the winter of 1838 Trail of Tears Removal of the Cherokee. He was a delegate to Washington, D.C. in 1845. Elected Asst. Principal Chief of the Nation, west in 1851-1853. He died in 1853. Norm was a proud father of two daughters, Penny Saxon (Kim) of Waldorf, Maryland, and Mary Duffy (Matthew) of Youngstown, Ohio and one son, Daniel Helton of Highland, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Arthur, David, and Edward Helton, his first wife, Judith (Henderson) Helton, and an infant son, Norman H. Helton, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sally (Sutton) Helton, his daughters Penny and Mary, his son, Daniel; and stepchildren, Tamela Doggett, David Sutton (Rebecca), Michael Sutton (Julie), and Benjamin Sutton. There are eighteen grandchildren, many of which were close and very special to him, seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Surviving also are his beloved brothers, Jerry (Janet) Helton, Wayne (Pam) Helton, Dale (Pam) Helton, Gary (Marilyn) Helton, and sister, Barbara (Jerry) Caudle; nine nieces, and eight nephews. Norm lived his faith with courage and generosity, giving a helping hand wherever he could. He will be remembered as a caring and loving husband, father, brother, grandpa, and friend. His humor, which was treasured by his family, will uplift them in the days to come. We rejoice in the assurance of his salvation and are comforted by the knowledge that Norm is in the arms of Jesus. A Visitation will be held Monday, April 1, 2024, from 4p.m. until 7p.m. at Hurley Funeral Home, 122 W. Douglas, Petersburg, Illinois 62675. The following day, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, a second Visitation will be held beginning at 10:00a.m. with a Funeral Service at 11:00a.m. at First Baptist Church, 103 W Sangamon St. Petersburg IL 62675. Interment will be Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 1:00p.m. at Mound City National Cemetery, in Mound City, IL 62963. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Norm’s name to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org or to The Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, Illinois is in charge of arrangements.

Rev. Norman H. Helton

February 1, 1946 - March 24, 2024

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