Helen Boney Bortner

Our loving mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, Helen E. Boney Bortner, 93, of White Springs, Mifflinburg, went home to be with our Lord early morning Monday, March 9, 2020.

She was born February 5, 1927, on Hardscrabble Rd., Lewisburg, a daughter of the late James and Mary (Oister) Sampsell. She was one of seven children.

Helen attended Louden School, Mifflinburg.

She was employed at several sewing factories, the last was Tara Lee of New Berlin. Helen also worked for K&Z Decorating, where she sewed pinch-pleated draperies. In her earlier years, she was employed at Sterling Mills of Mifflinburg, Chef Boyardee of Milton, and Par-Knit of Mifflinburg.

She was a charter member of New Hope Bible Church, Mifflinburg, where she was involved in the Seeds of Love Home Missions, enjoyed Potters House, concerts, and hymn sings where they would have homemade ice cream. She was always present attending her son’s bands, the first Saving Grace Band and now Mercy Run Band. Helen was a former member of the Sound of Gospel Church, Selinsgrove, where she was involved in the Home Missionary Group.

At a local hangout spot, Moser Store in White Springs, she met her first husband, Donald Boney, a son of Clarence and Gladys (Motter) Boney. They began a courtship and were married May 12, 1946. Together they were blessed with five children. At a cabin along Penns Creek, they enjoyed spending time with family and enjoying picnics. They would also picnic at Sand Bridge, along Route 192, where Donald would compete with the children to see who could eat the most corn on the cob, and he usually won. They had a camper and enjoyed traveling to various areas as far as Florida.

After the passing of her husband on December 12, 1983, she married Robert Bortner on April 29, 1989, and became a blended family, adding four more children. They also enjoyed camping and traveling, making trips to England, California, and other states. They were members of the PA Good Sam Camping Club.

Helen was a member of the Ladies Auxillary of New Berlin Fire Company.

She was an excellent seamstress, good cook and pie baker. If you never tried her pies, you missed out. She would often make her family’s favorites, Coconut Cream and Lemon Meringue. She was also an impeccable laundress and was able to get the hardest stains out of clothing, from grease stains to grass stains from her son’s football pants. Her family was always bringing her clothing to wash and would sometimes get it back a different color from her using just a little too much Clorox.

Helen always had time for all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her great-great grandchildren.

Surviving in addition to her husband Robert, are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Ronald Boney, and Barry and Tina Boney, all of Mifflinburg; two daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Elmer Weikel of Lewisburg, and Barbara Gessner Kuhns and Paul Kuhns of New Berlin; one son-in-law, James Chism of Dickson City, Tennessee; one brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Brenda Sampsell of Mifflinburg; one sister-in-law, Betty Lou Sampsell of Milton; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and was blessed to be able to see 3 great-great-grandchildren; three step-sons, Robert, Michael, and Patrick Bortner; one step-daughter, Dianna; and numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, and step-great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald; one daughter, Carol Chism; one daughter-in-law, Norma Forbes; two sons-in-law, Leon Brininger, and Daniel Gessner; one grandson-in-law, Michael Magruder; three brothers, Leroy, Paul, and Earl Sampsell; one sister, Miriam who died in infancy; and one great-grandchild, Aleah.

Family and friends are welcome from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, at New Hope Bible Church, 310 Raven Lane, Mifflinburg, where the funeral will be conducted at 11, with Pastor Jason Mitchell and Pastor Jacob Tanner, officiating.

Burial will be held privately at Hartleton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to New Hope Bible Church, 310 Raven Lane, Mifflinburg.

Funeral arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg.