Helen was born on October 17, 1932 on a farm southeast of Harrisonville, daughter of Fred and Elsie Lucille (Logan) Horn. She moved with her family in 1934 to a farm in the Belle Plain community, and in 1938 to a farm west of Freeman, MO. She attended grades one through six at Freeman School. In 1944, the family moved to a farm north of Lone Tree School, and she attended grades seven and eight at Lone Tree School, before graduating from Harrisonville High School in 1950.
Helen was united in marriage to William (Bill) Friedrich on May 23, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville. Helen worked at the Cass County Library as book mobile librarian and branch librarian from 1963 to 1969, and at the Western Electric Plant in Lee's Summit, MO from 1969 to 1987. Helen and Bill also owned and operated the Harrisonville Book and Office Supply Store in Harrisonville from 1983 to 1990, and then was the sole proprietor from 2000 to 2003.
Helen was very involved in many diverse areas in Harrisonville. She was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church, member and past-president of the Harrisonville Lions Club, original board member of Hope Haven, past-president of the Harrisonville Business and Professional Women, past-president of the Cass County Council on Aging, a board member of the West Central Community Action Agency, and a member of the Cass Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, where in addition to other duties she managed the auxiliary gift shop for many years.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill, in 1991; and a brother, Freddy Horn. She is survived by two sons: Gary Friedrich (Pati), Portland, OR; Terry Friedrich (Martha), Overland Park, KS; a daughter, Lu Ann Beeman (Keith), Prairie Village, KS; a sister, Margie Friedrich, Harrisonville, MO; five grandchildren: Michael, Mark, Ginny, Alex, and Leslie (Larry); 3 great-grandchildren: Tevin (Aysha), Leticia, Scout; one great-great-grandchild, Alina; and many other family members and friends.
