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Born October 23, 1935, in St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, MN to Fred and Leona (nee Dean) Westendorf, the fourth of five children.

As a young child, her love of horses was fostered by her dad, having her sit on the old mule, Mae, while he was doing chores. Helen thought the piglets were so very cute and never did eat sausage once she learned from where it came. She helped both in the house and around the farm, including caring for 1,000 laying hens!

At five years of age, she attended a one-room school, Dale School District 53 in Zumbro Falls Township. She attended eight years of school taught by one teacher, Mrs. Davison. Mrs. Davison made sure the children had a well-rounded education, taking them to see President Harry Truman and piling into a car to go the Sibley house. The lessons were not only the basics, but also about World War II, the new ballpoint pen, flight by jets, and much more, including the beginning of computers. “Little did I know my future husband would make computers!”

In high school, Helen was a member of the gun club after her father gave her a .22 rifle. While talking about that gun, she would say it was “a wonderful gun, just so accurate.” After graduating from Rochester High school, she went to the University of Minnesota (St. Paul Campus) for three years. Her first choice was to become a veterinarian, but the times were not well-suited for a woman to have that occupation, so she majored in Home Economics focusing on fashion design and construction and culinary skills, and found learning as her passion. 

While attending the University of Minnesota, Helen met her husband on a blind date. On April 21, 1956, she married Roger V. Anderson in his home church in Taylors Falls. They chose to be married in Roger’s church with his beloved stepmother and dad there. Helen designed and sewed her wedding dress, including all 92 satin fabric-covered buttons. Helen and Roger had five children, and all attended Taylors Falls School, graduating with honors. Her wedding dress was later worn by one of her daughters.

Alongside Roger, Helen worked on the farm, raised chickens, helped cows have calves and milked cows. She was a 4-H leader, and a member of the Taylors Falls School Board. She sold Avon for five years. She went back to college graduating in 1980 with a degree in nursing. She loved her work as a Registered Nurse at Ladd Memorial Hospital in Osceola, Wisconsin.

Her work was interrupted in 1982 by a stroke. She was hospitalized in Sister Kenny Institute for five weeks. Then she returned home to fight her way back. She learned how to write with her left hand and learned to walk again. In 1986, she returned to nursing at the Simenstead Nursing Home in Osceola, Wisconsin.  She was active in her church life, initially at St. John’s Bear Valley Lutheran Church in the countryside near her home, including three years of Catechism; at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls (1956-2006); and at First United Methodist in Lindstrom (2006 – 2025). She hosted many lunches, coffees, Mother-Daughter banquets, women’s groups, read Scriptures, and made hundreds of quilts and layettes.

Helen loved all animals – regardless of species or size. She mended cats, dogs, calves, horses, and birds. The children of the area knew of her love and brought many injured animals to her for mending – and mend they did! She loved horses of all sizes – big and small. Animals could feel her kindness. They were always comfortable with her and felt her love. 

Helen loved cooking, baking and entertaining friends and family. She always enjoyed a new recipe at least one a week and all had to taste it. Helen had the ability to “taste” food by reading the recipe. She catered weddings and other special occasions. The smell of her cinnamon rolls called all in church to coffee following the service.  Helen also loved to read, particularly poems, as anyone in her church can attest. Her lineage of Robert Frost was not lost! Her passion for learning and books was shared with her children.

Helen loved nature and with her husband, Roger, visited Alaska, Hawaii, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Grand Tetons, and went whale watching on the East Coast. When the children were young, (nearly) yearly vacations made great use of a pop-up camper. They visited the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, the sand dunes of Michigan, Lincoln’s Springfield home, the Smoky Mountains, Mackinac Island and other sites. Helen loved adventure and it is from her that her children learned to take pictures of the signs so the significance and details of the monument can be reflected upon.

She retired in 1992 to be home with Roger (also retired). In 2005, they moved to Lindstrom, MN to live in a new house on seven acres, as the farm was sold. There they continued to cultivate their gardens and kept miniature horses, a miniature donkey, a dog and a cat. Helen would talk to the snakes and tell them her guests would be afraid, and they should go back into their holes. She was a unique “snake whisperer”.

Helen was a woman ahead of her time. She wanted to be a vet before that was acceptable. When building onto the farmhouse, she argued with the builder about the large bathroom and kitchen drawers that slid open on wheels. She fought against NSP and prevented their energy lines from crossing their property. She told the township to stop spraying pesticides so that the wild roses would continue to grow. Helen convinced fellow school board members that pregnant teenage girls should be allowed to continue their high school education. She was a “Super Mom” before the term was around. Helen sewed clothes, not only shirts, shorts, blouses and pants but special matching holiday outfits, winter coats, underwear and swimsuits. She made sure that all her children enjoyed and learned during their tenure in 4-H, including the skits that she designed. 

Helen had diverse interests which can be seen through her children: photography, volunteering, art and painting, serving on school board, gardening and canning, sewing, involved in politics, reading, education, auctions, and much, much more.

Helen is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60+ years, Roger V. Anderson, parents (Fred and Leona), two sisters (Virginia and Judy), two brothers (Leon and David), a grandson (Kevin Sodergren), a granddaughter (Jill Sodergren), and a son-in-law (Tom Barnes). She is survived by her children (youngest to oldest): Amy (Scott) Hjulberg, Julie (Scott) Domogalla, Sally Barnes, Bruce (Laura) Anderson, and Nancy Anderson. Her grandchildren: Gage and Kelly Hjulberg (Amy), Jim Sodergren (Julie), Joyce and Jacob Domogalla (Julie), Anna Young (Nancy), Eric and Ivan Ramey (Nancy). Her great-grandchildren: Hayden and Lila Michels (Nancy), and Ophelia and Ansley Ramey (Nancy).

Together she and Roger were quite the couple. Roger, the outgoing, gregarious gent and Helen, the woman who always opened her home and served everyone with her incredible kindness and tasty treats. Helen will be missed and is now reunited with the love of her life. A host of friends and relatives remain and will remember Helen’s warm heart, love of nature, great food, and lively spirit.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom.  Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.  Interment followed at Kahbakong Cemetery in Taylors Falls.

Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Lindstrom.  Condolences maybe expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com

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