Helen Pearl Ketchum, of Wichita, passed away in her home Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, surrounded by her family, at the age of 100.

Helen was born the daughter of Louie and Lou (Shank) Wacker on July 31, 1926, in Wichita.

As a young girl, she grew up on a farm outside Argonia. After high school, she worked in Wichita at Wesley Flower Shop and the Mayberry School Cafeteria. The family then moved back to Argonia, where she was the co-owner of Argonia Café and later managed the Suppesville Restaurant. She moved back to Wichita and worked for Alco Interiors, TG&Y, Dollar General and Cessna Aircraft.
After retirement, Helen helped her daughter as an assistant designer at Builders Design Gallery, and ran the retail sales of outdated model home furniture. She really enjoyed yard work and loved to get up early to mow and maintain her yard. Helen even mowed the yards of both of her nextdoor neighbors and her son’s yard when he was too busy well into her late 80s. She was a very independent woman, loved helping her friends and neighbors and was even still driving at the age of 95. Her wonderful giving spirit will be missed by all those that knew her.
Helen was preceded in death by her by her parents, Louie and Lou Wacker; brother, Dale Wacker; and sister, Grace Wulf.
Survivors include her son, Gary Ketchum and his wife Kyla of Andover; daughter, Shirley Noah and her husband Marvin of Wichita; her sister-in-law, Georgia Wacker of Milan; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside service for Helen will be take place on Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Argonia Cemetery, Argonia. There is no visitation planned.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be given to the City of Argonia, Memo: Cemetery Fund, PO Box 35, Argonia, KS 67004. All donations will be used to make improvements to the cemetery building. Contributions can be mailed or left with Cornejo Funeral Home.
Share a memory, leave condolences, or sign her digital memorial wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home and Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, KS 67152.