Funeral Mass for Helen Bolt, 89, Lawton will be at 12:00 PM Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Seeton, pastor officiating. Orelia Helen Deister Bolt went to join her beloved husband Gilbert on January 21st 2013. She died peacefully at McMahon-Tomlinson Nursing Center surrounded by children. Burial will be in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. Helen was born August 14, 1923 to John Thomas Deister and Margaret Ellen O'Connor Deister at Sacred Heart, Oklahoma an early German Catholic Settlement founded Benedictine Monks. She graduated from St. Benedict Catholic High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma where she was a talented member of the Tennis Team and a top student. She married Gilbert Bolt in Shawnee on November 24, 1942. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary six months before Gilbert's passing and were devout members of Holy Family Catholic Parish since June of 1959 when services were first held at the Vaska Theater. Helen worked as secretary for the Fire Marshal at what was then called Tinker Field while her husband served in the European Theater of World War II. She loved being an "army wife" and enjoyed the opportunity to live in Japan, Germany, Hawaii and many of the United States. While living in Japan during the post war occupation she worked as court stenographer for the War Crimes Trials Commission. During a military assignment in post war Germany Helen showed her intrepid spirit for travel and adventure when the family crisscrossed much of Western Europe in their 1949 Pontiac at a time when tourist accommodations were basically nonexistent and the language barriers were many. Helen always loved the water, especially the ocean and when Gilbert was assigned to the 25th Division in Hawaii, most weekends were spent visiting the many beaches where collecting shells and beach glass with her children was a favorite activity. Between overseas assignments Helen called Lawton- Ft. Sill home where family picnics at the post swimming pools were filled with food, fun and sun. She also was an accomplished seamstress making dresses for her daughters and matching wardrobes for their dolls. Helen loved a good bridge game and over the years she developed into an expert, eventually playing with numerous bridge groups in Lawton including the Center for Creative Living, the Greiner School, Fort Sill Officers Wives Club and the Lawton Country Club. Helen was an avid genealogist. After Gilbert retired, they enjoyed nothing more than to set out on genealogy trips to trace their roots. Her interest in family history extended to becoming a museum volunteer in the Jenny McCrutcheon Room at the Lawton Public Library and her involvement with the Southwest Oklahoma Historical Society and the Prairie Lore and Tree Tracers Publications. Her diligent research enabled her to eventually become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lawton Pioneer Women's Club. Long time members of Holy Family Catholic Church, she was a member of the funeral dinner committee, the prayer chain and the Ladies Guild which for many years produced the very popular Christmas Bazaars. Helen loved politics and worked on many campaigns even traveling to New Hampshire during the primaries. She was a member of the Comanche County Republican Women's Club, served as her Precinct Chairman and was a delegate to the State Convention. She was also a member of the Comanche County Election Board and always looked forward to the bipartisan camaraderie at the Courthouse during every Election Day. Helen was an avid reader of nonfiction books and instilled that love of reading in her children. She took great pride in her garden where she grew a variety of old fashioned flowers and vegetables. She was an excellent cook mastering the cuisine of many of the countries where her family lived and traveled. As the family grew, Helen always enjoyed attending the school and sports activities of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by daughter Judy Peters and her husband Curtis of Norman, her son Charles Bolt and his wife Diane of Norman, her daughter Mary Eichinger and her husband Michael of Lawton, a brother Clem Deister of New Mexico, six grandchildren, Amy Donnelly, Chris Peters, Matt Bolt, Brian Eichinger, Andrea Munding, Lauren Eichinger, six great granddaughters, Jaclyn, Rachel, Erin, Megan, Grace, Layla and one great grandson, Luke. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Zelma Bean and brothers Grady, Arthur, Henry and Louie Deister. Special thanks to the staff and families of McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Center for the 6 years of loving care and kindness shown to our sweet smiling mom, Helen Bolt. The family will greet friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.