Helen Frances Pfeifer

Helen Frances Pfeifer, age 78, of Park Rapids, MN passed from this life into eternal life on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids with her loved ones at her side. Helen was one of ten children born to Joseph and Hilma (Harstad) Hughes on September 10, 1937 in Savannah Township of Becker County, MN northwest of Two Inlets, MN. It was in this same area that she attended country school near her home and went on to attend high school in Park Rapids where she worked at the Hanson’s Laundromat in Park Rapids during her junior and senior years. After graduating from high school she attended school in Minneapolis and gained employment as a telephone operator for Mutual of Omaha. As a young woman she was set up on a blind date with Aloysius Joseph Pfeifer. Six months later on September 15, 1956 Joe walked the prettiest gal in Savannah Township down the aisle of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets. The young couple made their home in Park Rapids for three years before moving to Crystal, MN where Joe worked as an electrician for the Honeywell Corp. Helen devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and large family. She will be long remembered for her delicious rice and ham hot dish and her lemon meringue pie. Helen saw to it that all six of her children were able to participate in school sports and other activities. In 1978, while helping Lyle and Glen on their paper routes, Helen suffered a massive stroke and spent the next 40 days in the hospital. She was told by top neurosurgeons that she would never talk or walk again. Through sheer determination and tenacity she learned how to talk and walk and use the daily motor skills we all take for granted and miraculously made a full recovery. The family began dairy farming on the home farm in Savannah Township in 1983 with the work being done primarily by two of her sons, Paul and Lyle. In 1987, Helen and Joe moved back to the farm to help with the farming operation after being in the city for 27 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed collecting spoons, coins, plates and salt and pepper shakers. She was a long time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets. She loved music and especially enjoyed dancing the waltz, polka and square dancing with her beloved Joe. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband for the past 59 years, Joe at home in Savannah Township; her two daughters: Rita (Royce) Holland of Park Rapids and Lisa (Dan) Avenson of Park Rapids; four sons: Paul (Julie) Pfeifer of Park Rapids, Mark Pfeifer of Pine City, MN, Lyle (Tammy) Pfeifer of Park Rapids and Glen (Amanda) Pfeifer of Twin Valley, MN; 13 grandchildren; 1 step-grandson; 11 great grandchildren; 3 sisters: Hilma Mae Wright of Bow, WA, Nancy (Greg) Tigue of Dilworth, MN and Joanne (Rick) Wright of Park Rapids; four sisters in law: Jane Hughes, Diane Hughes, Teresa Denio and Helen Pfeifer; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters: Ethel, Pansy and Tilda and three brothers: John Wesley, Alfred and Melvin. Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10:30 AM Saturday, December 19, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets, MN. Casket bearers will be Scott Pfeifer, Shawn Pfeifer, Mark Pfeifer, Dillon Altepeter, Lyle Pfeifer and Tyler Pfeifer. Honorary casket bearers will be Rita Holland and Lisa Avenson. Visitation will be held 5 – 8 PM Friday, December 18, 2015 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and beginning one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be made at Lakeside Cemetery in Two Inlets, MN. To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com.