Helen Boettcher

HELENE WILHELMINE OTTILE BOETTCHER was born on May 20, 1918 to Theodore and Clara (Bottcher) Boettcher on the family farm in Grange Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm and attended Country School in District 16. In her younger years she helped with milking cows and doing chores around the farm until her father died in 1942. Later she began assisting her mother with house cleaning around town until the time of her mother’s passing in 1980. She then became a Watkins distributor which she truly enjoyed, meeting new people and socializing with them. In August of 2001, she moved into Pipestone and continued to sell Watkins from her home. In October of 2013, she became a resident at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone where she frequently asked relatives to help “bust her out.” In December of 2015, Helen was placed under hospice care at Good Sam where she passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at the age of 97 years, seven months, and 19 days.

Helen was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone where she was baptized on May 20, 1918 and confirmed on June 11, 1933. She always enjoyed embroidering, whether it was pillow cases, dish towels, or anything else, she worked on them until her eye sight failed. Her collection of salt and pepper shakers was quite extensive. She loved to cook and bake, and owned many cook books and cut out recipes. Anyone who stopped at the house would find a big bowl of popcorn and a puzzle in the works on a card table.

Helen is lovingly remembered by relatives, Red (Kay) Kruger of Pipestone and Beverly Drewes of Alta, Iowa; and many other cousins and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents.