Helen Goldsberry (Pfaff) Smith

HELEN ELAINE GOLDSBERRY PFAFF SMITH, age 90, passed away peacefully at the Evergreen Community on July 2, 2012 in Olathe, KS. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
Helen Goldsberry Pfaff Smith was the first of two children born to Mayme and Frank Goldsberry on the Ott Farmstead in Barber County, Kansas on November 20, 1921. Preceding her in death was an infant daughter, Gretchen; her husband Kenneth Pfaff; and her second husband, Darrell Smith. She was a member of the Church of Christ United Methodist Church in Salina, Kansas and she belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star.
Helen was an entreprenuer, a woman ahead of her day. She graduated from Medicine Lodge High school in 1939 and began working at the Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas, soon after graduation. She met and married Kenneth Pfaff in 1941, and Ken was drafted into the U.S. Air Force shortly after their wedding. When Ken returned home to Hazelton, he was introduced to his 18-month-old daughter, Heidi. While in Hazelton, Helen was a 4-H leader and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
After Ken's return from WWII, Helen and family moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where Ken attended and graduated from Kansas State College. Helen worked as the salesclerk and manager of a children's clothing store during this time.
After Ken's graduation, they moved to Florence, Kansas and Helen worked at a grocery store. Helen and family then moved to Hugoton, Kansas. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a Girl Scout leader and began her entrepreneurial career. She developed the idea of a local museum. She actively raised funds to start the museum, solicited donations of money, local historical items to be displayed, and was the curator for the Natural Gas Museum in Hugoton. The museum told stories about the Dust Bowl era of the 30's and the development of the Natural Gas Fields in Southwest Kansas. This museum has grown and is still a viable part of the town of Hugoton. While curator of the museum, she became a member of the Santa Fe Trail Organization. This group asked Helen if she would accept a position promoting the Santa Fe Trail. She accepted the position and traveled the Santa Fe Trail from Westport, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico for many years. She encouraged businesses and people to donate and or buy ads in the Santa Fe Trail brochure. She had various creative promotions to encourage travelers to travel the Santa Fe Trail and see the various historical sites along the Trail and of course support the businesses. During this time the Governor of Kansas honored her at the State Capitol for her tireless promotion of the historical sites in the State of Kansas. In Hugoton she also produced, wrote, directed and was the spokesperson on a television show called Hugoton and It's People.
When Ken and Helen moved to Great Bend, Helen continued to work with the Santa Fe Organization. Helen's most successful publicity campain to promote travel on the Trail was organizing and riding in a wagon train that traveled the old Santa Fe Trail from Westport to Santa Fe. Helen left the Santa Fe Trail Organiztion when she felt that she was no longer able to travel by herself. During her time in Great Bend, she became a Fuller Brush saleswoman in the Industrial section; and she was, at that time, the only woman selling in the Industrial section. She sold cleaners, floor waxes and brushes to retaurants and other industries. She was awarded many honors during her career with Fuller Brush, but the one dearest to her was being recognized as the highest-producing salesperson in her region. She also opened her own Fuller Brush store in Great Bend that was very successful.
After Ken's death, she met and married Dr. Darrell Smith and they moved to Salina, Kansas. She once again produced, wrote, directed and was the spokesperson for the show she called Salina and I'ts People. She produced over 200 shows and had many award-winning shows. She was a very active member of the Church of Christ United Methodist Church, particularly in her Sunday School Class and the UMC Women's group. She donated money and time to many charities in Salina and always promoted them on her televsion show.
She is survived by her daughters Heidi Pfaff Logan (Max), grandchildren, Heather Gleason, Holly Logan, Jane Logan, (Avi Hesterman) Will Logan (Kayla) and seven great-grandchildren.
Her family enjoyed Helen's creativity and they will always have fun memories to share. Helen had a good life.
Memorials may be given in Helen's name to the Evergreen Community of Johnson County, 11875 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 100, Olathe, KS 66061, which gave her excellent and loving care during her declining years.