Helen Marie Hull Arterbury, 86, passed away on April 13, 2020 at Clarkson Health Care Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she had resided for the past two years. Helen Marie Hull was born September 30, 1933, near Melrose, Iowa, in Monroe County, to Willis Orin and Ruth Schaller Hull. She moved with her family to Wessington Springs, South Dakota, at the age of 3 months. Later she moved with her family to Huron, South Dakota, where she started school in a one-room schoolhouse. In her 8th grade, her family moved to Virgil, South Dakota. In the12th grade her family moved to Wessington Springs, South Dakota. She graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1951.

Helen married James Floyd Arterbury in Huron, South Dakota, on September 24, 1955. James died May 12, 1976.

Helen was a pioneer in women’s rights, not as an activist, but by proving women could do any job. She was a brilliant self-learner and taught herself many things. She was promoted to a level in the Civil Service previously held only by college graduates. Helen expected fair treatment and never backed down.

After graduation from high school, she started her career at Jerauld County Agriculture Department. In 1952 she began her career in Civil Service in Huron, South Dakota at the USDA Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. In 1957 she transferred to DeKalb, Texas, in the US Army depot. In 1963 she transferred to Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota, and this was the beginning of her promotions in management. In 1977 she was promoted to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1983 another promotion, moving to Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs in charge of a world-wide department monitoring off-base housing for air force personnel. With the air force bases all over the world, Helen had the opportunity to travel to many countries, which she greatly enjoyed. For many years she visited many countries, before and after retirement, with her great friend, Zona Evans of Rapid City.

Helen took good care of family and friends before and after retirement. She volunteered with many organizations in Colorado Springs. She became a member and President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Organization. She delivered Meals on Wheels for years. After moving back to Rapid City she continued volunteer work.

Helen is survived by three sons: Roger, Freeland, WA; Allan and wife, RoGene, Nixa, MO; and Bruce and wife, Tammy, of Colorado Springs, CO; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother Harold Hull, Robbinsdale, MN; one sister Lois Moore, Rapid City, SD and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Lowell Hull, her daughter-in-law, Holly Hollister Arterbury, and two of her grandchildren, Mark Arterbury and Sean Whiteface.