Helen Blekeberg, 88

July 10, 1929 —

 Aug. 9, 2017

 

Ridgeway -  Helen (Lund)  Blekeberg, age 88, of Ridgeway, Iowa died on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa.

Funeral services for Helen will be Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Madison Lutheran Church of Ridgeway with Pastor Jeff Hansen officiating. Burial will be in Madison Lutheran Cemetery.

Helen Mae Blekeberg was born on July 10, 1929, the daughter of Theodore and Clara Lund in Viroqua, Wis. She grew up on the family farm and attended school in Viroqua and later attended Luther College, graduating in 1950. 

She was a school teacher for 20-plus years and taught in Brooten, Minn., Brodhead and Oconomowoc, Wis. and Waterloo and Cresco. She taught mathematics, science and physical education. 

Helen married Orrin Blekeberg on June 24, 1962 in Viroqua. She retired from teaching 10 years later and joined Orrin in their farming operation outside of Ridgeway. In 1991, they retired and moved into Ridgeway. 

Helen was a former member of the Decorah Lutheran Church and a current member of the Madison Lutheran Church, where she had served as church treasurer for many years, on the church council and as a ladies aid officer. She enjoyed going to their do-days to work on quilts. She was a member of the Cresco Piecemaker’s Quilt Guild and the Clip & Stitch Quilter’s Guild in New Hampton. 

Helen loved to bake, especially Norwegian goodies and enjoyed reading, crafts and tending to her flowers. Her true passion was for quilting. She spent numerous hours at her sewing machine making quilts and other projects. She loved going to quilt retreats and shopping for fabric to add to her “stash.” She kept her sewing machine close, even at the hospital and nursing home in recent months. 

Most of all, Helen treasured her many friendships, especially with other quilters. She will be best remembered for her kind and caring nature. She was an inspiration to all, especially other quilters. God bless her memory.  

Helen’s survivors include her two sisters, Irene Buschkopf of Juneau, Wis. and Esther (Gaylord) Dolphin of Onalaska, Wis.; sister-in-law, Roberta Blekeberg of Mabel, Minn.; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and three special friends, Brad Linderbaum of Ridgeway, Kathy Schrader of Decorah, Iowa and Jody Kuennen of Festina, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orrin Blekeberg; parents, Theodore and Clara Lund; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert Buschkopf, Hazel (Vernon) Herman, Marcella (Orville) Smorstad and Wallace (Dorothy) Blekeberg;  nephew, Ted Buschkopf; and   niece, Jane Blekeberg.