Helen Marie Hand Fries 1918-2006

FRIES, HAND, HIGGINS, RESCH, JOHNSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/24/2011 at 15:15:16

Helen Marie Hand, the daughter of John and Katie (Higgins) Hand, was born May 17, 1918, in Borup, Minnesota. She passed away Sunday, July 9, 2006, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa, at the age of 88 years, one month and 22 days.

She received her education in the Borup schools, graduating from Borup High School in May of 1934, at the age of 16. Helen always said that they let her skip a grade because she was so smart, but her family wonders if her mischievous nature had something to do with it!

In 1936, Helen moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa, where she was employed at the O'Brien Maidrite Shop. On June 27, 1938, she was united in marriage to Earl Fries at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Following their marriage the couple farmed for two years in the Cylinder area. They moved to Superior, Iowa, in 1941, where they farmed until 1975, when they retired and moved into Estherville. In April of 2002, Helen and Earl entered Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Earl died December 25, 2002. Helen was a charter member of Superior Township Study Club. She was active in Senior Citizens activities; served as R.S.V.P. Coordinator for two years; Coordinator for Senior College Days; and served on the Older Iowa Legislature for four years. She was Chairperson on the Emmet County Council on Aging Review Committee at Rosewood Manor. Helen also welcomed new residents to Estherville for the Estherville Ministerial Association. She always had a lot of friends and loved entertaining company. She always made the best of what she had and stayed busy. Her grandchildren will always remember her shooting "hoops” in the driveway, making the best goulash in the world with a bit of this and that and making every holiday an experience with gifts of her "crazy day” purchases and her quick and witty sense of humor. In 2005, Helen was named "Mother of the Year" and "Female Resident of the Year" at Hilltop. She will be missed by her family and friends, but when they think about her, they'll always chuckle about something she did or said.

She was an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville for over fifty years.

Left to cherish Helen's memory are one son, Jim Fries and his wife, Sandy of Glendale Heights, Illinois; two daughters, Joan Resch and her husband, Ronald of Spirit Lake; Mary Johnson and her husband, Lyn of Milford, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Don Fries, Bill Fries and Kathy Fries all of Glendale Heights; Mark Fries and his wife, Tina of Channahon, Illinois; Sam Resch and his wife, Kari of Palentine, Illinois; Andrew Resch of Seattle, Washington; Mike Resch and his wife, Julie of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Patty Macy and her husband, Bob of Avon, South Dakota; Jake Resch of Athens, Georgia; Todd Johnson and his wife, Kris of Milford; seven great-grandchildren, Kiana Resch; Emily and Nicholas Resch; James and Benjamin Macy; and Erik and Kaia Johnson.

Preceding Helen in death were her husband; her parents; three sisters, Margaret, Rene and Mary Jane; and two brothers, Ronald and Francis. (MC)