Today, we said “see you later” to our adored mom, Grammie, sister, aunt, and friend.

Deb Helmboldt passed away June 10, 2025, the same day she was born 68 years ago, in the care of the Hospice team at Corewell Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids.

Born in Reed City, Michigan to the late Leslie and Eleanor (Rhodes) Eichenberg, she spent her life in this small town. Deb graduated from Reed City High School in 1975, married Randy Rice, and soon welcomed two children, Randy and Sarah. She later married Hal Helmboldt, and in 1989, Deb and Hal embraced the arrival of Casey, the final addition to her family.

Deb was a familiar and welcoming face in the Reed City Rite Aid, as the Store Manager, where she retired from in 2020, after 32 years of dedicated service. She worked tirelessly, to give herself and her family a bright future. 

Family is what kept her hustling. Every summer, she hosted her family for a cookout at her home, with the new generation fishing and wading in the pond, while the adults sat on the front porch chatting. She was always on the lookout for clearances at Rite Aid and always had gifts to give the kids, from sidewalk chalk to fleece blankets. We always looked forward to her surprises. While she spoiled her sisters’ kids and grandkids, it was not long before her own lap grew full. Without the constraints of a work schedule, she was free to enjoy her own six grandchildren. 

Deb is survived by her children Randy and Alexis (Lakos) Rice, Sarah and Jay Dixon, Casey Helmboldt and Rebeca Lockhart; grandchildren, Oliver, Calvin, Henry, Max, Kyler and Ensley; sister Patty Losey and brother Wayne (Carol) Eichenberg; many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She was predeceased by her parents, Leslie and Eleanor Eichenberg and sisters Nancy (Robin) Shoemaker and Carol Kerr. She will be so deeply missed but kept in our hearts and memories.

A celebration of life will take place on Sunday, June 22 at the Lincoln Township Hall (20920 9 Mile Rd, Reed City) from 2:30 to 5:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Deb’s memory to Corewell Health Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center (Susan P. Wheatlake Reed City). Per her wishes, Deb has been cremated.

The family wish to thank the staff at Susan P. Wheatlake Cancer Center in Reed City for their kindness and care, the staff at the Corewell Health Emergency Department (Reed City), Osceola County EMS, and the ICU team at Corewell Health Butterworth for their compassion and flawless care, and finally the nurses at Hospice of Michigan for their dedication to those they serve and their families.