Funeral Services for Helen Kloppenborg, age 96, of O'Neill will be at 10:30 am on Monday, July 27, 2026 at the O'Neill Methodist Church in O'Neill with Rev. Bob Wynn officiating.  Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 pm Prayer Service.  Helen passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at Plainview Manor in Plainview, Nebraska. Memorials may be directed to her family for future designation.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Helen Joan Burival was born January 30, 1930, at their home North of O'Neill to Antoinette Marie (Homolka) and Frank Leopold Burival, Sr. Helen attended Country School at Districts #15 and #37, then O'Neill High School for 9th through 12th grade.  She graduated in 1947 with several academic achievements.  After graduation, Helen taught Country School for two years for school district #37.

Helen married Ernest Able Kloppenborg on November 25, 1949, making their first home in O'Neill then moving to Emmet then again North of O'Neill where they farmed.  To this union, nine children were born.  Helen enjoyed having chickens, baking, and sewing.

They would later move into the City of O'Neill when their country school closed.  Throughout her life, Helen enjoyed studying the Bible, attending school events, assisting with 4-H, entering Holt County Fair projects both for her children, grandchildren, and her own flower displays and vegetables.  She assisted as a Girl Scout mom and Sunday School teacher, being a home room parent at the elementary school.  She was an avid reader, keeping alive the exchange of letters between the wives of her husband's WWII military unit, attending church, Bible study, square dancing, listening to KBRX polka time and party line, taking Sunday afternoon cross country drives, having family and friends over for tea and cookies, holding family holiday meals, teaching her 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren about birds, squirrels, flowers, growing sunflower houses, sharing plants and seeds, starting violets of many colors to pass on to family and friends, making sequin calendars, embroidering towels and pillowcases, mending the boys' jeans, caring for her many cats, singing children's songs, especially You Are My Sunshine and Jesus Loves Me, baking, telling Bible stories, and spending time with her 39 great and 4 great great grandchildren.  Helen loved telling stories of her childhood, how family trees interrelated, who was doing what on any given day, the weather conditions, and circumstances in relation to each of her children's births, and teaching life values.

Helen participated in Red Hat Ladies, Women's Auxiliary, attending every high school class reunion, and was a member of the United Methodist Women.  She enjoyed traveling with her daughter to Hawaii, and with friends on tours to Branson, Nashville, and Graceland.  She enjoyed attending Nebraska State Fair music concerts and looking at the garden and quilt exhibits.  Helen worked at the O'Neill American Legion Club for many years.  You oftentimes found her holding babies to calm them so new parents could eat.  Helen traveled to various nursing homes presenting to staff on the dignity of residents on "I Am Someone".  Helen was an avid supporter of the Irish Capital Feline Foundation and the Holt County Animal Shelter.

Helen loved God, her family, and her dear friends.  Helen is survived by her eight children, James (Susan) Kloppenborg of Emmet, NE, Janice (John) Peregoy of Coleridge, NE, Jerald (Rhonda) Kloppenborg of O'Neill, NE, Joyce (Todd) Miller of Emmet, NE, Jill (Kent) Fox of Stuart, NE, Julie Joyce of Wausa, NE, Jean Ruge of Plainview, NE, and Jeffrey (Chelle) Kloppenborg of Scottsbluff, NE; 21 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Toby Kloppenborg of O'Neill, NE, and Jackie Kloppenborg, of Emmet, NE.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest; daughter, JoAnn Barker; sons-in-law, Fred Barker and Timothy Ruge; four siblings, Clifford Burival, Frank "Swede" Burival Jr., Donald Burival and Dorothy Matthews; brothers-in-law, John Matthews, Ervin Kloppenborg, Donald Kloppenborg; and sisters-in-law, Lovina Pierson, Vera Kloppenborg, Patricia Burival, and Ruby Wayman.

Special thank you to Plainview Manor and AseraCare Hospice for their loving care during her last days, and O'Neill Country Lanes Assisted Living.