Helen L. Petersen

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Dionysius Catholic Church or Pipestone County Hospice.

HELEN LEONA PETERSEN was born to Nicholas and Catherine (Bakker) Wiering on January 23, 1930 on a small farm in Hope Township, Minnesota. She was baptized at St. Dionysious Catholic Church, the same church she would be confirmed at later in life. She attended Starr Country School until the 8th grade and spent her childhood working on the farm, riding bicycle and attending the kitten ball in Ruthton on Sunday afternoons. She worked on the farm until she met and married the love of her life, Bert Petersen, on June 1, 1949. She continued her work on farms alongside her husband. In 1960, the couple relocated to their permanent home on the Petersen homestead. Helen and Bert were blessed with 13 children. After Bert's passing in 1976, Helen continued to raise the youngest seven children while still operating the dairy and grain farm. In 1993, Helen retired and moved to her home in Tyler, Minnesota, where she kept busy quilting, baking, cooking and gathering with her family and friends.

Helen was very active in the community and could often be seen gardening, dancing, canning, and loved her time with family and friends. She is remembered for her kindness, dignity and humility. She had a big heart and was always ready to greet you with a smile and something freshly baked. She didn’t like talking about herself but loved to hear about what was going on in the lives of those around her.

After several health conditions, Helen became a resident of the Good Samaritan Communities in Pipestone, Minnesota, in January 2022, where on Monday, May 9, 2022 she died peacefully surrounded by her family at the age of 92 years, three months and 17 days.

Helen is lovingly remembered by her children Shirley Mortland of Tyler, Roger (Theresa) Petersen of Tyler, Wayne (Jan) Petersen of Lynd, Minnesota, Sharon (Jeff) St. Michel of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Jim (Cindy) Petersen of Crosby, Minnesota, Dennis (Mary) Petersen of Russell, Minnesota, Marlene (Kevin) Johnson of Tyler, Diane (Kevin) Wagner-Keefe of Walcott, North Dakota, Joyce (Bob) Larsen of Tyler, Jean (Loren) Tinklenberg of Pipestone, Randy Petersen (Kim Bosma) of Ruthton, Minnesota, and Lori “Sal” (Jeff) Griebel of Pipestone; grandchildren, Kevin (Sarah) Thompson, Amanda Petersen, Courtney Petersen, Joan Rollag, David (Denise) Steele, Wayne Steele, Seth (Jessica) St. Michel, Gayle (Will) Gaeck, Trent St. Michel, Jonathon (Sherise) Petersen, Holly Petersen (Pat), Kayla (Dalton) Werkman, Kristine (Andy) VanDamme, Derek (Chandale) Johnson, Melissa (Brody) Padgett, Brittany (Rainey) Reynolds, Jess (Andy) Wagner-Knuth, Erica Wagner, Shannon Paulson (Dustin), Leah Keefe, Klarissa Larsen, Katie Larsen, Kaleb Larsen, Brandon (Kayla) Houselog, Breanna (Matt) McCorquodale, Blaine Houselog (Mary), Matt Griebel (Victoria), Ashley (Ben) Sherman, and Mason Griebel; and great-grandchildren, Chandler, Sydney, Jennifer, Jeffery, Jessica, Justin, Brad, Brett, Brittani, Brianna, Cassandra, Miranda, Michael, Cora, Mia, Westley, Alex, Oliver, Maverick, Brielle, Natalie, Brayden, Corson, Blake, Charlie, Oliver, Nolan, Miles, Graham, Oliver, Baby Reynolds, Harrison, Baby Knuth, Mariah, Ava, Degan, Kendyl, Alika, Lindyn, Piper, Baby McCorquodale, Evelyn, and Baby Griebel; and 15 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy (John) Gockowski and Bev Wambeke; brothers, Clarence (Agnes) Wiering and Earl (Marion) Wiering; in-laws, Gordon Petersen, Jo Petersen and Barb Petersen; and many nieces and nephews and other friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert; son, Kenneth; parents; brothers, Nick, Jim, Art, and an infant brother; sisters, Mary Bontje and Agnes Nihart; sons-in-law, Ray Thompson, Doug Wagner, and Dick Mortland.