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Helen Marie Ries
Helen Marie was born to Arthur and Edna Hillestad in Lake Preston, S.D., in January of 1937. She had one brother who was eight years older, Robert (“Bob”). As a young girl, she was always bringing home and caring for stray animals, mostly cats and dogs, but she liked to mention her pet raccoon, Suzie. She grew up playing the piano and organ. During her high school years, she was involved in choir and the marching band.
After high school, Helen went on to be a lab X-ray technician. While working at the Redfield Hospital in South Dakota, she met and married Durwood Hancock. They moved to Huron, S.D., where they started a family and had two daughters, Susan and Julie. Helen would talk about how much fun they had spending summers with cousins and friends at the lake cabin in South Dakota.
In 1967, Helen's husband was transferred to Mason City, Iowa. While raising their two girls, Helen was involved with the school PTA and was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for her girls. There were always animals in the house, like her Persian cats. She enjoyed playing records and we grew up listening to the Tijuana Brass and Bing Crosby.
In 1974, the family moved to Prior Lake, Minn. She was widowed in 1976. Helen went back to work as a secretary and bookkeeper for General Tractor. Besides keeping busy raising the girls, she volunteered for local elections. She belonged to a ladies' card group that still meets to this day.
Helen remarried in 1981 to Irvin Ries. Together they tended to a large garden of flowers (roses) and vegetables. Helen did a lot of canning fruits and veggies and made jam from her berries. They also got to do some traveling with Irv's nephew, Rob and family.
Helen was quick-witted, enjoyed a good joke and loved to tease. Being 100 percent Norwegian, we always had Olie and Lena stories going around. She was known as saying “Uff Da,” and holidays always included lefse and krumkake. No lutefisk though. She liked to cook and bake from scratch. She liked going to musicals, concerts and sports games.
Helen and Irv moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 2000 to be near family. Here they built a home which was always kept meticulous. They kept busy attending their four grandsons' basketball, swimming, wrestling, soccer and football games, and other school events. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and a lifetime member of the Ladies' VFW Auxiliary. Helen was again widowed in 2009.
Helen was an avid football fan. Being from Minnesota, her team was, of course, the Vikings. Family would meet every Monday night for dinner and football.
Helen moved into The Renaissance Assisted Living in 2016. She continued getting her hair styled weekly and playing games with other residents. She especially enjoyed having visits from family, friends and her dog, Lizzy.
Helen was taken to the Hospice House on Oct. 16, 2018, and took her last breath on Oct. 17. She is now with her Heavenly Father, rejoicing and forever in peace.
Helen will be buried in Lake Preston, S.D. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Edna Hillestad; brother, Robert Hillestad; sister-in-law, Eleanor Hillestad of Lake Preston; husband, Durwood Hancock of Prior Lake; and second husband, Irvin Ries of Coeur d'Alene.
She is survived by daughters, Susan Heston and Julie (Timber) Turner of Hayden, Idaho; grandsons, Matthew Heston and Jared Heston of Coeur d'Alene; Titus Turner and Chase (Haley) Turner of New Orleans; great-grandchildren, Bronwyn and Dezi of New Orleans; nephews, Rick (Jan) Hillestad and David (Tammy) Hillestad of Lake Preston; Robert (Bridgette) Startz of Fargo N.D.; great-nephews,Thomas and Sebastian Startz of Fargo; Carson, Taylor, Noah and great-niece Lindsay of Lake Preston.
Any memorials can be sent in her honor to Hospice of North Idaho.