Helen Purdie, 84

Helen Margaret Purdie was born Helen Schneider on June 26, 1928, in Timberlake, S.D., and had eight siblings. Her parents were Peter and Mary Eva Schneider and were farmers.

Helen is survived by her son, Jack; her daughters, Margret, Pam and Mary; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She graduated from Timber Lake High School and was a member of the cheerleading squad. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa, after high school and lived with her sister, Leah. She worked for John Deere Company in Des Moines as an office clerk. She married John Purdie (Jack) on Sept. 16, 1950, and was married until he passed away on Aug. 3, 2010.

Helen lived in South Dakota, Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, Montana and Idaho. She traveled extensively with her husband after he retired as a commercial pilot. She worked in retail sales for many years and was top sales associate at Sears in Coeur d’Alene before retiring in 2000.

She was an avid golfer and skier and loved the outdoors. She was a gourmet cook, won several amateur cooking contests and perfected the family recipe for spicy mustard. Her daughter Pam continues the legacy and Helen’s Mustard is now a popular delicacy soon to be sold everywhere.

Helen spent her last happy years at Hayden Valley Assisted Living. She left this world to join her beloved Jack and her savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 30, 2012.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Please sign Helen’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.