Helen C. (Simmons) Terhune (1909-1993), Home Designer
DBA: H. Terhune Home Designer, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Helen Simmons Terhune was born February 25, 1909, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to O. W. and Nellie (Cline) Simmons. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1927 and attended Hastings College, and was married to Otis O. Terhune on February 28, 1928, in Scottsbluff. Terhune drew house plans for several homes in Scottsbluff, and worked for the Corps of Engineers and the internment camp at the airport during World War II. Terhune’s appearance in the Nebraska architects database derived from her listing as such in the classified section of the Scottsbluff-Gering City Directory for 1959, doing business at 1611 1/2 1st Avenue in Scottsbluff. She was also listed as an architect with Otis W. Simmons in the personal listings of 1956. By 1963 she advertised as H. Terhune Home Designer and continued in this business through 1972.[a]
Terhune was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff, and was a charter member of Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society, the Bells West Club, and the American Bell Association. She was past secretary of the Half Century Club, and honorary vice president of the Oregon Trail Days. Of her many civic associations, she was a member of TOB Project Club, the Pioneer Birthday Club, Laura M. Woodford Women’s Club, Scottsbluff Garden Club, Sod House Society, League of Arts, Scottsbluff Historical Society, Order of the Eastern Star, Nebraska Quilters League, American Quilters Society, and the Regional West Hospital Auxiliary, where she started the foster parent program for the nursing program. Terhune was past chaplain of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and past secretary of Job’s Daughters Bethel 10. She also taught quilting classes for many years.
Terhune died at Gering, Nebraska on September 24, 1993 at 84 years of age. She was survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Merlin Rice, and Joyce and Jack Alcock, as well as two granddaughters, while she was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Harold Simmons and grandson John O. Parmenter.[1]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
[hide]Educational & Professional Associations
1927: graduated Scottsbluff High School, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[1]
____: attended Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska.[1]
1928: cashier, Royal Café, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
1932-1934: resident, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
1945: owner, Terhune Industries, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
____: with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.[1]
1956-1959: architect, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[a]
1963-1972: owner, H. Terhune Home Designer, draftsman, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
1973-1975: co-owner, Terhune Trailer Court, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
1978-1987: co-owner, Simmons Apartments, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Buildings & Projects
Notes
a. No evidence other than the two directory listings (1956, 1959) has been found to indicate that Terhune was licensed as an architect.
References
1. “Helen C. Terhune,” Scottsbluff Star-Herald (September 25, 1993), 5a:4.
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “Helen C. (Simmons) Terhune (1909-1993), Home Designer,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 31, 2015. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 19, 2025.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
