Dale Orville Helms, 89, of Richmond Heights, MO, and formerly of Belleville, IL, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer.
He was born on August 8, 1937, in Belleville, IL, the son of Orville and Dorothy, nee Berteloth, Helms.
Dale was raised on the family farm on Old Freeburg Road in rural Belleville and loved his Angus cattle herd. He showed at many county and state fairs in his youth. His love for agriculture led him to the University of Illinois where he studied Animal Sciences. While at Illinois, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity where he held offices and developed lifelong friendships. He also was on the University of Illinois Livestock Judging Team that won 1st place at the International Livestock Show in 1958. Dale graduated with Highest Academic Honors from the University of Illinois as Bronze Tablet, which is awarded to the top 3% of the graduating class. He later served on the University of Illinois Ag Alumni Board and worked to establish the initial donors for the Jonathan Baldwin Turner Scholarship.
He met his wife, Jane, at the Freeburg Homecoming in the summer of 1955 just before he moved away to attend college. She followed him to the University of Illinois, and they married on December 24, 1960.
Dale was active throughout his life in the community. He served on the Freeburg Community Consolidated School District 70 School Board for over 30 years. He was a 75-year member of the Turkey Hill Grange serving as President and Secretary. For decades, he was on the early morning coffee making crew for numerous wurstmarkts and chicken dinners. Dale chaired the State Grange Ag Committee, and the Dale and Jane Helms Family was presented with the 2007 National Grange Family of the Year Award. He and Jane were also named the Illinois Grange Young Couple of the Year in 1969. Dale was a member of the Union United Methodist Church in Belleville where he served on the finance committee. He was a lifelong member of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau. Dale served as the Beef Superintendent for over 35 years for the St. Clair County Fair.
Dale had a natural ability and enjoyed building on the farm, including a significant portion of the house for their growing family. He enjoyed learning and talking about agriculture, attending farm shows, and reading world history, business and economics.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Orville Walter Helms and Dorothy Lucille, nee Berteloth Helms; a brother Dean Jon Helms; and great-grandchild, Sullivan Anthony Stanaland.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Jane Ann (Stutz) Helms of Richmond Heights, MO; three children, Frederick Dale Helms of Belleville, IL; Janet Marie Plote (Roy) of Leland, IL, and Matthew John Helms (Michelle) of Webster Groves, MO; a sister-in-law, Mary Jean Schlieckert (Gary) of Bloomington, MN; four grandchildren, Skyler Stanaland (Erin) of Freeburg, IL, Ethan and Avery Plote of Leland, IL, and Lilian Helms of Webster Groves, MO; and two great-grandchildren, Cormic and Ronan Stanaland of Freeburg, IL.
Memorials to honor Dale’s life can be given to Turkey Hill Grange or the Freeburg Elementary School Education Foundation. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
The family thanks Trustwell Living Community in Richmond Heights, MO, and the specific staff that provided compassionate care for Dale.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL. There will be a Turkey Hill Grange ritual at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Funeral: Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, Rev. Joseph Scheets officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Protestant Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
