HELEN E. KISPERT
Helen
Helen E. (Mrs. James)
Kispert, age 94 of Nerstrand, died peacefully on Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008
at the Kenyon Sunset Home.
Services will be held at Nerstrand United Methodist Church on
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Nancy A. Edwardson
officiating. Interment will be at the Methodist Memorial Knoll, rural
Nerstrand.
Visitation will be held in the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault, on
Monday, March 24, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. and also in the church for one hour
prior to the services on Tuesday.
Helen Emma, the daughter of Arthur and Laura (Beckley) Hildebrandt,
was born on June 30, 1913 in Holden Township, Goodhue County. She married
James Kispert on September 6, 1932 and he preceded her in death on July 19,
1964.
She is survived by four children, Garry (and Dee) Kispert of
Sequim, WA, Betty (and Smokey) Clifton of Queen Valley, AZ, Bonnie (and
Charlie) Harmon of Dudleyville, AZ, and Jack (and Gloria) Kispert of Blaine;
eight grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild;
one sister, Shirley Donohue of Forest Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by husband, James; her parents; and two
sisters, Ruth and Grace Kispert.
During her youth Helen helped her father on the family farm,
milking cows and working the fields. She attended Kenyon High School,
graduating in 1931. After marrying, Helen and her husband James raised their
four children and continued to farm. She was active with her children in 4-H
Club and the Parent/Teacher Organization. As a life long member of Nerstrand
United Methodist Church, she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and
was active in the Methodist Women’s Club. In 1964, Helen began working at
the Faribault Regional Center caring for the mentally disabled. She left the
family farm and moved to Nerstrand in 1967.
In 1978, Helen retired from active employment but her next careers
began. She provided day care to many community children for almost 25 years.
She also volunteered as the city librarian and at the Nerstrand School,
again providing for the children of the community, and volunteered for
almost 20 years with the Faribault Area Hospice, beginning as part of the
initial group of volunteers in 1984. Helen and her sister Grace were honored
as Grand Marshals of the Nerstrand Bologna Days parade. In 1998, Helen was
honored as an elder for the Nerstrand Community Celebration.
Helen loved her garden. She grew vegetables, sometimes borrowing
extra garden plots from neighbors, and canned her baby dill pickles which
made excellent Christmas gifts. Her flower garden included a wide variety of
colorful flowers for all to enjoy. “A Grandmother’s love is a garden in
bloom.”
Thank you to Helen’s nieces and nephews, friends and Marlene Floren
for their loving help over the years. Thank you also to the staff at the
Kenyon Sunset Home, Faribault Area Hospice, Reverend Nancy Edwardson and
Reverend Garth Schumacher for their kind support.
“Helen, You are a Good and Faithful Servant”
Guest Book Memories Will Be
Recorded Below