Helen Arlene Miller Renaud, 86, of Grinnell, passed away Jan. 12, 2026, at UnityPoint - Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A visitation will be held 1:30-3 p.m. prior to the memorial service at Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be designated to Grinnell United Methodist Church, Wagaman Mill and Museum in Lynnville, or Grinnell Historical Museum, mailed to Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Helen was born Sept. 7, 1939, at her family’s farm home outside Melbourne to William Frederick and Marie Augusta Caroline (Peterson) Miller. Helen was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Marshalltown and confirmed in St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Melbourne. She attended Melbourne Schools and graduated with the Class of 1957.
Upon graduation, she worked at J.C. Penney Co. in Marshalltown until 1961. Apr. 9, 1961, Helen was united in marriage to Robert Lewis Renaud at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Melbourne. Following their marriage, the couple lived on a farm southwest of Grinnell and joined Grinnell United Methodist Church in 1961. To this union the couple had two sons, Scott and Brent.
Throughout the years, Helen worked as a secretary for Kyle C. Jones, superintendent of Grinnell-Newburg Schools, Poweshiek- Jasper Farm Service, Grinnell Sale Barn, and Ramsey-Weeks Inc. She was an active member at Grinnell United Methodist Church, as she served as the treasurer, vice president, and president of the Grinnell United Methodist Women, as president of Church Women United, and taught Sunday school. She served for 13 years as assistant commissioner and then commissioner for Poweshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District. She was the first woman to be elected Chairman of the District. She was a member of the Iowa Cattlewomen (formerly known as CowBelles), in which she served as Poweshiek County Chairman, District Director, and Secretary of the Iowa CowBelles. She was named District CowBelle winner in 1984. She was a member of Grinnell Hospital Auxiliary and Grinnell Historical Museum. She hosted many foreign visitors and was a host family in 1979-80 for American Field Service Student Stefan Harb from Austria.
In addition to the work outside the home, Helen was a partner with Robert in the farm operations: Keeping the books, tending a garden that fed the family, helping with the cattle, hogs, and chickens, selling eggs, butchering chickens, and driving the tractors for the fall harvest and spring tillage. Helen made lunch for Robert and the boys even when working. Helen was a talented cook and well known for her cookies and pies. She was a tireless, hardworking, and organized person her entire life.
Helen is survived by her sons Scott Renaud and Brent Renaud (Julie Mally), her grandchildren Alexandar Renaud (wife Amanda and great-grandchildren Tessa, Calvin, Cecelia, and Indy), and Blake Renaud (wife Liesl and great-grandchildren George and Lincoln).
She was preceded by her husband of 61 years, Robert; her parents; and her siblings Letha Scott, Dorothy Lanning, Margaret Williams, Ruth Charlier, and Wilma Smith.
