1920
Helen
2010
Helen Hillstrom
August 22, 1920 — November 11, 2010
Helen Bertha Hillstrom, age 90, of Vergas, MN, passed away Thursday, November 11, 2010 at Innovis Health in Fargo, ND.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Vergas, MN with Rev. Gary Klempke officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 A.M. to the time of service on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the church. A luncheon will be hosted at the church following the service for all to attend. Interment will be made in Vergas Village Cemetery. Funeral arrangements by Furey Funeral Home, serving Frazee and Vergas. To leave online condolences, please visit www.fureyfh.com.
Helen was born August 22, 1920 in Perham, MN to William and Gertrude (Fuhrmann) Happel. She was the 4th of 6 children. She grew up on the family farm on the Perham Prairie and graduated from Perham High School with the class of 1937. Helen was united in marriage to Leonard Hillstrom on October 12, 1940 at a Methodist Church in Breckenridge, MN. This union was blessed with two children: Charles and Jean. Helen and Leonard met at a dance near Vergas and recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Early in their marriage, the young couple lived in Breckenridge, MN, then Fargo, ND, eventually making their home in the Vergas area in 1942. Leonard and Helen owned Hillstrom Construction, where Helen kept busy doing the book keeping. The young family also enjoyed the winter months when they could be out snowmobiling in the area. They spent many winters traveling south visiting friends and family. She was also an avid reader, enjoyed quilting, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She liked to watch jeopardy, and often knew more answers than the contestants. She also enjoyed gardening and dancing. She looked forward to the visits of the great grandchildren and always had fresh baked cookies on hand.
She was an active, long-time member of the Vergas United Methodist Church. She was also an active member of the Vergas Lions and VFW auxiliary. Helen served on the Otter Tail County Welfare Board for many years. She served many levels of office in many of the organizations she was a part of.
Helen is survived by her husband of 70 years, Leonard; son, Charles (Kathy); daughter, Jean (Dwight) Thorson; 4 grandchildren: Bobbi (Drew) Whittaker, Kari (Jason) Legler, Kris (Scot) Manthe and Sara (Adam) Homelvig; 8 great grandchildren: Brayden Legler, Bryce, Blake and Kylie Manthe, Xavier, Zander, Bryer and Eloise Homelvig; 1 brother: George; 1 sister: Margaret; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters: Gertrude and Bernice; 1 brother, Robert; sisters-in-law, Agnes Happel and Martha Happel; brothers-in-law, Alfred Nieman, Vern Bunn and Eldo Krogman.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Vergas, MN with Rev. Gary Klempke officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 A.M. to the time of service on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the church. A luncheon will be hosted at the church following the service for all to attend. Interment will be made in Vergas Village Cemetery. Funeral arrangements by Furey Funeral Home, serving Frazee and Vergas. To leave online condolences, please visit www.fureyfh.com.
Helen was born August 22, 1920 in Perham, MN to William and Gertrude (Fuhrmann) Happel. She was the 4th of 6 children. She grew up on the family farm on the Perham Prairie and graduated from Perham High School with the class of 1937. Helen was united in marriage to Leonard Hillstrom on October 12, 1940 at a Methodist Church in Breckenridge, MN. This union was blessed with two children: Charles and Jean. Helen and Leonard met at a dance near Vergas and recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Early in their marriage, the young couple lived in Breckenridge, MN, then Fargo, ND, eventually making their home in the Vergas area in 1942. Leonard and Helen owned Hillstrom Construction, where Helen kept busy doing the book keeping. The young family also enjoyed the winter months when they could be out snowmobiling in the area. They spent many winters traveling south visiting friends and family. She was also an avid reader, enjoyed quilting, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She liked to watch jeopardy, and often knew more answers than the contestants. She also enjoyed gardening and dancing. She looked forward to the visits of the great grandchildren and always had fresh baked cookies on hand.
She was an active, long-time member of the Vergas United Methodist Church. She was also an active member of the Vergas Lions and VFW auxiliary. Helen served on the Otter Tail County Welfare Board for many years. She served many levels of office in many of the organizations she was a part of.
Helen is survived by her husband of 70 years, Leonard; son, Charles (Kathy); daughter, Jean (Dwight) Thorson; 4 grandchildren: Bobbi (Drew) Whittaker, Kari (Jason) Legler, Kris (Scot) Manthe and Sara (Adam) Homelvig; 8 great grandchildren: Brayden Legler, Bryce, Blake and Kylie Manthe, Xavier, Zander, Bryer and Eloise Homelvig; 1 brother: George; 1 sister: Margaret; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters: Gertrude and Bernice; 1 brother, Robert; sisters-in-law, Agnes Happel and Martha Happel; brothers-in-law, Alfred Nieman, Vern Bunn and Eldo Krogman.
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