Helen "Betty" Cookson, age 80, of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and the family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. A scripture service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be designated to the St. Mary's Parish Foundation and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com. Helen Elizabeth Nelson was born the daughter of Merle and Helen (Vahlkamp) Nelson on January 26, 1935, in Quincy, Illinois. She was raised and educated in Quincy. She was united in marriage to Glen H. Cookson on November 12, 1955, in Quincy. The couple lived in Quincy and in 1963, the family moved to Grinnell, Iowa. Helen worked as a clerk at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance for 31 years until her retirement in March of 2000. Betty was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Her enjoyments included camping, reading, traveling, playing games on her computer, feeding birds and squirrels, and tending to her plants and flowers. She is survived by her sons, Anthony Cookson of Grinnell and John Cookson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; three grandsons, Nicholas (Erin) Cookson, Adam Cookson and Brandon (Sara) Cookson, all of Cedar Rapid; five great grandchildren, Cameron, Mariah, Keely, Austin and Christopher; brother-in-law, Lyle (Pat) Cookson o Liberty, Illinois; sister-in-law, Janet (Larry) Sparks of Ewing, Missouri; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glen H. Cookson on August 1, 2005; and a sister, Kathleen Norell.