DODGE CITY - Helen Gerber, 97, died Monday, February 26, 2018 at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City.

She was born June 8, 1920 at Andale, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence and Philomena (Peschka) Irsik. On May 1, 1948 she married Richard Gerber, Sr. at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City. They lived in Dodge City until 1959 when they purchased Rixon Oil Company in Charleston, Kansas, and operated as Gerber Oil until their 1982 retirement and return to Dodge City.

She enjoyed quilting, baking, volunteering, traveling, cards, watching sports and painting.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.

Survivors include: her husband of 69 years, Richard, Sr., Dodge City; 3 daughters, Junilla Collard and husband Joe, Allen, Texas, Cheryl Hicks and husband George, Dodge City and Patty Dunkle and husband Mark, Dodge City; 2 sons, Richard Gerber, Jr. and wife Darinda, Garden City and Brent Gerber and wife Marla, Ingalls; 2 sisters, Pat Goebel, Jetmore and Mary Lorraine Gibbons, Cory, North Carolina; a brother, Larry Irsik, Wichita; 17 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, Norbert Irsik, Steve Irsik, Sr. and Clarence Irsik and 2 sisters, Elsie Vogel and Jude Shriwise.

Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding. Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City. Visitation will be Thursday from noon to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart School Endowment or Catholic Charities both in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.