Helen Marie (Berg) STRUHAR YON HILPIPRE

BERG, HILPIPRE, BLOM, STRUHAR, YON, MCFALLS, PAULSEN, DOAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/7/2017 at 17:00:36

February 9, 1912 --- March 6, 2017

Helen Marie (Berg) Hilpipre, 105, of Clarion took the hand of her Lord and Savior and entered the gates of Heaven on Monday, March 6, 2017. According to her wishes, she will be cremated and A Celebration of Life will be held in late June or early July.

http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/helen-m-berg-hilpipre/

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CLARION — Helen Marie (Berg) Hil­pipre, 105, of Clarion, Iowa, died on Mon­day, March 6, 2017 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehab­ilitation Center in Clarion, Iowa. A Cele­bra­tion of Life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM at First Lutheran Church, 420 1st Street Northwest in Clarion, Iowa. Pastor Nicole Woodley will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Fort Dodge. Instead of flowers, please consider a memorial to First Lutheran Church, Clarion; Gateway Hospice, Clarion; Iowa Department of the Blind, Des Moines; or a no-kill animal shelter in your area. Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion is in charge of arrangements.

Helen Marie Berg was born on February 9, 1912 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Gustav and Ingrid (Blom) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Helen graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1930 and began her career as a medical secretary in Fort Dodge. In 1940, she was married to Samuel Struhar of Fort Dodge. When World War II began, Sam was called to service and Helen moved to New York City to work through the Civil Service as a medical secretary at Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island. After the war they returned to Fort Dodge for a number of years. Sam and Helen moved to Clarion in 1947 where they operated the East End Locker until Sam’s death in 1951. She continued to operate the locker until it was sold in 1956. In 1956, she married Paul Yon of Eagle Grove. She moved to Paul’s farm where she began a life with Paul and his two daughters, Jackie and Mary. Her life changed in 1957 when Paul died suddenly. She stepped out alone in faith to raise his two daughters. She worked at the City Clerk’s office in Eagle Grove, the Eagle Grove Chamber of Commerce, and as a medical secretary for Dr. Dale Harding in Eagle Grove. In 1963, Helen moved back to her old home in Clarion and married Albert Hilpipre. Together they reopened the East End Locker and continued operating it until her retirement and his retirement from farming. Albert passed away in 1988.

Helen is survived by her daughters Jackie Yon McFalls and Mary Yon Paulsen, both of Mason City; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and ten great-greats all of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; foster family Nghi and Sa Doan and family of Fort Worth, Texas; many living nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends who love her. Our family is very grateful to those friends and caregivers who helped Mom stay in her home until the age of 100 and to enjoy her last days in assisted living and the care center. God bless each and every one of you.

Preceding Helen in death were her parents; brothers Herbert, Walter, Clifford, and Victor; sisters Ruth, Niomi (Nina), and a sister in infancy; husbands Sam, Paul, and Albert; sons-in-law Donald McFalls and John Paulsen, and her well loved nieces and nephews.

Helen’s life was a life well lived. She will be greatly missed.

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Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
June 22, 2017

Helen Marie (Berg) Hilpipre, 105, of Clarion, Iowa, died on Monday, March 6, 2017, at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 10:30 A.M. at First Lutheran Church, 420 1st Street Northwest in Clarion. Pastor Nicole Woodley will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Fort Dodge. Instead of flowers, please consider a memorial to First Lutheran Church, Clarion; Gateway Hospice, Clarion; Iowa Department of the Blind, Des Moines; or a no-kill animal shelter in your area. Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion is in charge of arrangements.

Helen Marie Berg was born on February 9, 1912, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Gustav and Ingrid (Blom) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Her Christian education began at her mother’s knee where she learned of God’s saving grace, loving and caring for others, and the faith that would sustain her for her whole life. She relied on that faith to carry her through immense grief, cancer, blindness, danger and the gratefulness to find blessings in each and every day of her life. Helen graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1930, and began her career as a medical secretary in Fort Dodge. In 1940, she was married to Samuel Struhar of Fort Dodge. When World War II began, Sam was called to service and Helen moved to New York City to work through the Civil Service as a medical secretary at Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island. After the war they returned to Fort Dodge for a number of years. Sam and Helen moved to Clarion in 1947 where they operated the East End Locker until Sam’s death in 1951. She continued to operate the locker until it was sold in 1956. In 1956, she married Paul Yon of Eagle Grove. She moved to Paul’s farm where she began a life with Paul and his two daughters, Jackie and Mary. Her life changed in 1957 when Paul died suddenly. She stepped out alone in faith to raise his two daughters. She worked at the City Clerk’s office in Eagle Grove, the Eagle Grove Chamber of Commerce, and as a medical secretary for Dr. Dale Harding in Eagle Grove. In 1963, Helen moved back to her old home in Clarion and married Albert Hilpipre. Together they reopened the East End Locker and continued operating it until her retirement and his retirement from farming. Albert passed away in 1988.

Helen was truly a gift to the people around her. She was an active member of the First Lutheran Church. Her countless hours of volunteer work were directed to the Senior Citizens Center in Clarion, the Clarion Hospital, Clarion Care Center, and the food cooperative to list a few. Her efforts earned recognition from the North Central Iowa Area Agency on Aging, the Clarion Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa Development Commission, and other entities. She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary, both in Clarion and Belmond, and a life member of TOPS. On a personal level, she fed many people who had come upon hard times, sickness, and other challenges. People fondly remember the Swedish rye bread, the dilly rolls, the sour cream raisin pies, the homemade soup, and especially the Christmas drink known as Swedish glögg. Helen loved dancing, Big Band music, swimming, fishing, and enjoyed traveling. She had many wonderful experiences on her trips and learned parasailing and snorkeling on a Caribbean cruise when she was 88 years old. She had a garden and canned and froze produce to keep and give to others. When she moved to the Meadows Assisted Living when she was 100 years old, she was an inspiration to all the residents. She could no longer see, but she was present for all of the activities and participated in every one. She loved the courtyard and would walk out there when weather permitted. Her life there was very happy, and her apartment was a favorite gathering place for both residents and staff. She continued to dazzle, and give wisdom and comfort to the very end. What a remarkable lady.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Jackie Yon McFalls and Mary Yon Paulsen, both of Mason City; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and ten great- greats all of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; foster family Nghi and Sa Doan and family of Fort Worth, Texas; many living nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends who love her. Our family is very grateful to those friends and caregivers who helped Mom stay in her home until the age of 100 and to enjoy her last days in assisted living and the care center. God bless each and every one of you. Preceding Helen in death were her parents; brothers Herbert, Walter, Clifford, and Victor; sisters Ruth, Niomi (Nina), and a sister in infancy; husbands, Sam, Paul, and Albert; sons-in-law Donald McFalls and John Paulsen, and her well loved nieces and nephews. Helen’s life was a life well lived. She will be greatly missed.