Obituary: Helen Rockwood

Helen M. Rockwood passed away in peace at age 93 on February 28, 2009 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

She was born on July 16, 1915 in Grasston, Minnesota. Helen graduated from Mora High School and then later from the Minnesota School of Business in St. Paul, Minnesota. Helen then worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and rose through the ranks eventually assuming the position of Departmental Supervisor. In 1948 she met and then eventually married George Rockwood from Worthington, Minnesota. They married on January 8, 1949 in Worthington.

For many years thereafter Helen managed her beloved home at 600 Lake Street in Worthington, raised her family, and actively participated with her husband George in the family business. When George became ill and unable to work, Helen then returned to work with the Worthington Public School system and eventually retired after serving in the position as the Secretary to various Superintendents of the public school system.

Helen was preceded in her death by her parents Anne and Victor Danielson, and step-father Joel Berglund, brother Wilber, sisters Judy, Ruth, Helens husband of 26 years George, step son Roxy, nephew Tom, and son-in-law Merle (Funk).

Helen is survived by son Richard (Rick) in Minneapolis, daughter Carol (Funk/Ray) in Kelso, Washington, and seven grandchildren Grant (Rockwood), Jordan (Rockwood), Donald (Rockwood), Tim (Rockwood), Ann Pat (Contino), Mike (Funk) and Chris (Funk). Additionally, three great-grandchildren Nicholas and Alyssa (Contino) and Scout (Funk). After Helen retired from the Worthington School system she continued doing the things she enjoyed which included singing in the Westminster Church Choir, Church Circle, singing in the Sweet Adelines and was particularly proud of her involvement as the Nobles County Coordinator for Red Cross Bloodmobile blood donation event. Later she received a Minnesota Volunteer of the Year Award for her untiring dedication, involvement, and passion for the Red Cross Bloodmobile. She also managed to travel to Europe, Hawaii, and enjoyed annual treks to visit son Rick and family when they lived in Houston, Texas. Years later she enjoyed visiting son Rick and family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Eventually Helen moved in with son Rick and family in Minneapolis where she continued her involvement in the church most notably in Bible Study, attending church events on a regular basis, and her ever important card club with her gal pals. Helen was always there to greet her grandkids when they returned home from school and provided many years of joy, happiness, and memorable times for neighbors and in-laws. Helen had a constant friend and companion with the family dog Zoe. Those two combined to be quite a pair.

Recently she moved into Assisted Living and then into a nursing home after suffering a fall that resulted in a broken hip. When reflecting on her life in her final months, she constantly commented on how much she enjoyed living and her life and constantly proclaimed her joy and thankfulness for all of the love and friendships shown to her. Helen, in her final weeks provided all who knew her with a superlative example of peacefulness, humility and grace in dealing with illness and the drawing to an end of her life. This wonderful, simple lady lived her life setting an example of peacefulness, loving, strong spirituality and inner strength which flowed freely to those who touched her. No matter how difficult life was Helen’s cup was always half full and with a smile on her face and that ever-present twinkle in her eye would proclaim her favorite saying “things always work out for the best.”

A visitation service will be held on Thursday March 5, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Benson Funeral Home. Services for Helen will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on March 6, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., with internment at the Worthington Cemetery laying next to her husband George. Memorials received will be donated by the family to the American Red Cross specifying her name and the work she loved supporting the Bloodmobile drive.

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