Helen (Givens) SNUSTAD

GIVENS, SNUSTAD, DAHL-LEHMAN, DAHL, LEHMAN, SUNSTAD, ANDERSON, SHARP, IRELAND, SEROSHEK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/26/2013 at 19:10:28

February 13, 1915 -- January 27, 2009

Helen Givens Snustad, age 93, formerly of Northfield, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at the Annandale Care Center, where she had lived since 2006. Helen Givens was born Feb. 13, 1915, in Goldfield, Iowa, to William and Fannie Givens. Immediately after her graduation from the New Rockford, N.D., High School in 1932, the family moved to Northfield. In 1936 Helen graduated from Carleton College. After a short career as a teacher, Helen married Nels Snustad in 1940. In 1950 the couple moved to Fergus Falls where she worked for 16 years as a feature writer for the Fergus Falls Journal. After Nels’ retirement, they were employed for three years by Lutheran World Relief in New Delhi, India, and then for two years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They subsequently retired to Battle Lake, Minn. Following the death of her husband, Helen moved to Monticello, Minn., where she resided at St. Benedict’s Senior Community. Helen is survived by her children, Sylvia Dahl-Lehman, Norman Sunstad and Gail Anderson; and siblings, Jean Givens Sharp of Midland, Mich., and Joe of Minneapolis; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Northfield News - Northfield, Minnesota
February 20, 2009

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January 12, 2009
Fergus Falls Journal - Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Helen Givens Snustad, 93, died at Annandale Care Center, on Jan. 6, 2009. Helen (Sylvia) Givens Snustad was born Feb. 13, 1915, in Goldfield, Iowa, to William and Fannie Givens. She graduated as valedictorian from Rockford, N.D., high school and received a BA from Carleton College, Northfield in 1936. Helen married Nels Snustad in 1940. They settled in Fergus Falls in 1950, where she worked as a feature writer/social editor for the Fergus Falls Daily Journal for 16 years. They were members of First Lutheran church. Starting in 1996, Helen and Nels worked overseas for Lutheran World Relief in New Delhi, India, for three years and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for two years. Nels and Helen then retired to Battle Lake. In Battle Lake, Helen was active at First Lutheran Church, the Senior Center, Food Shelf, Progressive Club and bridge clubs.

Gov. Rudy Perpich presented her an award for her participation with the Area Council on Aging advocating for nursing home reform. Helen moved to Monticello in 2000, and resided at St. Benedict’s Senior community. She relished her friends at St. Ben’s, a writing group at Monticello Community Center, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bible study and Scrabble. In 2006, Helen became a resident at Annandale Care Center.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Nels, in 1990; and a brother, Hugh in 1998. Survivors include children, Sylvia Dahl-Lehman (LeRoy), Norman Sunstad (Linda), Gail Anderson (Toni Seroshek), and siblings: Jean Sharp, Virginia Ireland and Joe Givens; four grandchildren, Chris Dahl, Eric Dahl (AnnMarie), Andrew Anderson and Mike Anderson; and two great-grandchildren; and nephews, nieces and friends.

Helen was a woman of integrity and intelligence who loved the English language. She had a gift for welcoming and including others. Memorials may be made to Lutheran World Relief in care of Gail Anderson, 10410 Kahler Avenue NE, Monticello. A memorial service is planned at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at St. Benedict’s Senior Community chapel, 1301 7th Street East, Monticello. Arrangements were made by the Cremation Society of Minnesota.