Helen Ruth, daughter of John Albert and Bessie Helen Dupuy McLuen, was born on January 30, 1935 north of Stuart, Iowa. Mickey graduated from Guthrie Center High School in Guthrie Center, Iowa with the Class of 1953. She attended broadcasting college in Omaha, Nebraska in 1954 and then attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa for one year. On August 21, 1955 she was united in marriage with Thomas Allen Downing at Guthrie Center and to this union two children were born: John Thomas and Kelly Lynne. Following their marriage, Mickey and Tom lived in various cities in Iowa and moved to Pella, Iowa in 1967 from Marion, Iowa. He then became Publisher of the Pella Chronicle, Tom passed away December 10, 1970. On January 29, 1972 she was united in marriage with Larry Eugene Hoksbergen at Pella. Mickey began working at Allen Travel Agency in Pella in 1969 and continued her employment there until April of 1983. During this time she also assisted her husband, Shorty, in the operation of the greenhouse. Her death came on Thursday afternoon, August 23, 1984 at the Pella Community Hospital at the age of 49 years, 6 months and 23 days. Surviving are her husband, Shorty; her two children: John and his wife, Robin Downing; Kelly Downing; two stepdaughters: Laura Ann and Melinda Kay Hoksbergen; and her mother, Mrs. Bess McLuen all of Pella. Of her original family, she leaves one sister and a step-brother, Donald Ray McLuen of Stuart, Iowa. Preceding her in death besides her husband, Tom, were her father and one step-brother, Wayne E. McLuen. Mickey was a former member of the Pella Garden Club; enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and bowling.
