HELEN RUBY DRAPER, 80, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Thursday, August 25, 2011 in Cherokee, Iowa following a 14 year battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 29th, at 2 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Pastor Tom Lewis will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Boothby Funeral Home with the family present from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. There will be a family prayer service at 1:45 p.m. at the funeral home on Monday. Following the services the body will be cremated and burial will be in Pilot Township Cemetery, rural Cherokee, Iowa at a later date. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Helen Ruby Sturm was born September 11, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended school in Maryland. She was married to James W. Draper Sr. on February 2, 1948 at Baltimore, Maryland. She had lived in Cherokee since 1987, prior to this lived on farm near Sutherland from 1947 until 1987. She was a life member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She enjoyed Bingo, collecting jokes, playing the one arm bandits, time spent with her two dogs Babe and Harley and helping people.

She is survived by her 5 children: James W. Draper Jr. and his special friend Sue Grienke of Cherokee, Iowa; Joseph W. Draper and his wife Dixie of Cherokee, Iowa; Jeffrey W. Draper of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Wanda Evajean Vodehnal and her husband Dennis of Lincoln, Nebraska; Jon M. Draper and his wife Diana of Marcus, Iowa; 11 grandchildren: Michelle (Brian) Rupp, Jessica (Clint) Jorgenson, Erica (Phil) Bell, Billie Jo (Dan) Struefert, James Draper, Christopher Draper, Katrina Wiese and her fiancé Donald Houdek, Austin Wiese, Andrew (Karen) Wiese, Amber (Luke) Martin, Jacinda Draper, 16 great grandchildren: Mercedes & Jordan Draper, Nicole, Trysten, Madison & Taryn Rupp, Calleigh Jorgenson, Aaron Clay & Gideon Bell, Samuel Streufert, Jake Novak, Stephanie & Andy Wiese Jr., Kylie, Tanner & Hunter Martin; three brothers: Joseph (Mary) Sturm Jr. of Essix, MD, William (Jearlene) Phillips of Darlington, MD; Albert ( Carole) Phillips of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2 brothers-in-law: Ralph (Eleanor) Draper of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Gordon West of Baltimore, MD; one sister-in-law: Margaret Draper of Clarinda, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on April 25, 2007, a daughter Linda Marie Draper, a grandson Mark Draper, a great granddaughter Jocelyn Draper and a sister Emma West.