Helen Olson Jones
Helen’s careers in the work place, as mother, as a volunteer, as a grandmother, and as a part of a large group of friends at first blush may fit a comfortable image, in great measure similar to her 
mother’s experiences. But as in most situations, when one inquires further, one sees a bit more about what she encountered in the work environment of the 1960’s.
Helen’s college years at Emporia State were permanently interrupted after two years when her father suffered a debilitating stroke and she returned home to help her family. She met Ted, an engineering student at Wichita State, and they were married in 1965. She went to work in Wichita to support Ted’s education and continued working until just before the birth of their first child in 1968.
Unfortunately, Helen held this job in the mid-1960’s, when workplace rules had not yet developed to protect women. As the only woman among 24 employees, she experienced the indignities and harassment of what subsequently became known as a hostile work environment and as the target of sexual comments by men in the shop. In 1965, there was little recourse if one wanted to keep a job with the sole “solution” being to ignore the comments, and much less understanding by employers of work place propriety and respect than there is today. The birth of their daughter and Ted’s job at Boeing provided her an escape from this environment.
As Helen and Ted’s family grew to three children by 1974, Helen became more and more involved in community volunteer activities, while continuing to assist her mother and brothers in caring for her father. She was deeply involved in activities related to her children’s well-being as the president of the Clark Elementary School PTA and in the Southeast High PTA where amicable relationships helped accomplish goals. These friendships continue today. She served on the Board of Deacons of the University Congregational Church and worked with her sorority alumni group in funding programs for the hard of hearing.
In 1983, she returned to the workplace for three years as the secretary in the reservations office at WSU’s Campus Activities Center, but left to spend time with her youngest child during his high school years. This work environment, characterized by cordial respect, was dramatically different from her experience 20 years before.
For the past two decades, Helen has participated enthusiastically in the family life of her children and grandchildren and enjoyed the companionship of Ted and her friends in bridge, Bunko and books. She speaks glowingly of her Grammy Days, when she and her grandchildren have the opportunity to spend time together in parks, visit museums, participate in other mutually enjoyable activities and learn from each other, including their help in developing her computer skills.
This is the first of four interviews on the topic of Women in the Workforce as reported by David Kroenlein in “The Messenger” for our 50th Class Reunion
