Helen J. Beyers

Helen Jean Beyers was born on April 21, 1934 to Orville and Elizabeth (Harris) Canaday in Page, Nebraska. When she was 10 months old, the family moved to Richland, Nebraska. She attended elementary school in Richland and high school in Columbus, Nebraska. During her senior year, she and her family moved to a farm west of Holland, Minnesota. In 1951, Helen graduated from Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minnesota. She then worked at the Pipestone National Bank. On April 4, 1953, Helen was united in marriage to Rolland “Rolly” Beyers. Following their marriage, the couple lived and farmed north of Holland, Minnesota. Helen was a farm wife and bookkeeper for their trucking business. In 1986, Rolly and Helen moved to Tea, South Dakota, where Rolly sold Peterbilt trucks while Helen worked in Lennox, South Dakota as a bookkeeper. When Rolly retired, they spent their winters in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Rolly died on April 18, 2003 and shortly thereafter, Helen moved to Pipestone to be closer to family. In 2019, Helen moved into Ridge View Estates in Pipestone. On Thursday, February 16, 2023 she went to be with her Lord at the age of 88 years, nine months and 20 days.

Helen was a former member of St. James Lutheran Church in Holland, where she taught Sunday school, release class and Bible school. She was also the church secretary and served as treasurer of the Ladies Aid. In 1988, she became a member at Memorial Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Helen joined Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church when she returned to Pipestone in 2003. Helen enjoyed reading, knitting, and crocheting and made many beautiful afghans through the years.  She enjoyed snowmobiling and playing cards with friends. She cherished numerous trips to Canada where she enjoyed fishing while in search of a trophy fish to mount. She was very proud of her children and loved spending time with her grandchildren and simply being together as family.

Helen is lovingly remembered by her children, Linda (Bob) Sommervold of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Rick (Judy) Beyers of Holland and Jim (Denise) Beyers of Pipestone; five grandchildren, Angela (Adam) Kniffen, Shane (Kelly) Beyers, Justin Sommervold, Megan (Kyler) Hawkinson and Bryce (Alyssa) Beyers; twelve great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard and Delores Canaday of Brookings, South Dakota and Lloyd Canaday of Moorhead, Minnesota; two sisters-in-law, Ardis Hanson and Judy Frank; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rolly; one grandson, Josh Sommervold; her parents; one brother, Roland; two brothers-in-law, Dick Hanson, and Dale Frank; and  sister-in-law, Char Canaday.