Helen Ruth Harder

Helen Ruth Harder of Hannibal, Missouri passed away peacefully on January 17th, 2026. She was 91 years old. Services will be determined at a later date.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.

Helen Harder was born in the family home on September 1st, 1934, in the very small town of Stet, Missouri. She was born to Rev. William Roy Foster and Ruth Pauline Foster. She grew up in the St Louis area and met Ervin W. Harder, her husband of nearly sixty years, in high school. She attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri and graduated with a degree in music education and was a trained concert pianist. She then taught music in the St Louis suburb of Brentwood for several years.

Soon after her marriage to Erv Harder, they moved to Hannibal, Missouri to begin a family and Erv started his dental career and Helen’s career as a music teacher paused as she stayed at home to raise their family.

Helen’s service to others included participating in the Newcomer’s Club, P.E.O., Women’s Club, the Hospital Auxiliary, Evening Etude Music Club. She and Erv along with several other members of Hannibal created the Twainland Express for helping tourists explore the city. Helen was a Christian by faith.

As her children grew, she re-entered the education system and began accompanying children for their district and state music competitions. She regularly hosted music students in her home for small concerts for her music club. She loved that she could use her talents to help the students feel more comfortable in performing. She also received a Master’s degree from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman) University.

Helen traveled extensively with Erv and several couples from the Hannibal area. They created a lot of wonderful memories from these trips, visiting all continents except Antarctica. She was an avid reader. Helen also enjoyed spending time with her family, her children and her 4 grandchildren.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and her brother-in-law Mary Lee and Warren Dale Wenneker, and her loving husband, E.W. Harder. She is survived by her children Hollie A Harder-Smith (Kevin) and Ervin Paul Harder II (Cheryl), and by her grandchildren, Lauren Watson (Derek), Evan Harder, Alissa Kelly (Patrick), Austin Smith, great-granddaughter Saskia Watson, and two nephews Andrew Wenneker (Melanie), Gary Wenneker (Kathy).

Online condolences may be made to the family on Helen's memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com