Helen Ruth Mehlberg, age 81, of Litchfield, Illinois, died February 19, 2014, in St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. Funeral services were held February 22, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Brother Ed Diveley, pastor of South Side Church in Litchfield, officiated. Burial was in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield.

She was born on December 5, 1932, in Prentiss, MS, a daughter of Homer and Dossie Diane (Graves) Saulters.

She married Harold John “Boogie” Mehlberg on December 17, 1955, in Hillsboro. He preceded her in death on Sept. 4, 2000.

Over the years, she waitressed at several restaurants, mainly the Ariston, and was owner of Parkside Café located north of the library in Litchfield. She had also previously worked at Wepco Mfg. and was a licensed dietician at Barry Care Center, all in Litchfield.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed both doing flower and vegetable gardening, crafts, crocheting and was known to be an immaculate housekeeper. Helen was a member of South Side Church in Litchfield.

She is survived by: one son, Donald Mehlberg of Litchfield, Illinois; four daughters, Brenda (Bill) Wooten of Valparaiso, IN, Linda Davidson of Litchfield, Sandra Barker of Oklahoma City, OK, Barbara Licata of Prentiss; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, James Kenneth Sellers; one grandson, Lonnie Angelo Licata; eight brothers; four sisters.

The family suggests memorials to South Side Church or Coats For Kids.