Helen
Helen Kilen
d. July 30, 2014
Helen Kilen, 93, Bismarck, formerly of Almont, died July 30, 2014 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am CST on Monday, August 4 at Almont United Lutheran Church, Almont, with Pastoral Intern William Dodd officiating. Burial will be at the Almont Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm CST on Sunday, August 3 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, followed by prayer service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Helen was born October 15, 1920 to Herman and Martha (Borchers) Joersz in Morton County. She was baptized on November 21, 1920 and confirmed August 4, 1935 in New Salem. Helen attended school through the 6th grade. On March 26, 1944 she married Norman Kilen and they made their home in the New Salem-Almont area where they raised their five children. Helen was Norman’s right hand in farming and ranching. She was a talented homemaker and enjoyed needlework, gardening, baking, flowers, pets, listening to accordion music, playing harmonica, and especially loved children.
After Norman died in June of 1977 she continued living on the farm until 1991 when she moved to Mandan, where she lived for 14 years. In 2005 Helen moved to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck where she made many friends, enjoyed the music, bingo, needlework, and all of the visits she had.
Blessed to have shared her life are her children, Carol (Duane) Zimmerman, Mandan, Arlene (Eddie) Becknell, Bismarck, Ethel (Doug) Heald, Sunrise Beach, Missouri, and Dwight (Colleen) Kilen, Bismarck; son-in-law, Bert Esser, Hoogeveen, Netherlands; 12 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; Norman’s siblings, Ethleen Hoovestol and Charlotte (Edwin) Thiel, both of New Salem, Virgil Kilen, Thornton (Caroline) Kilen, and Tharen (Mary) Kilen, all of Mandan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter, Norma; three sisters and three brothers, Ella (Carl) Westmeyer, Emma (Walter) Matthisen, Arnold (Florence) Joersz, Kathryn (Henry) Joersz, Bill (Florence) Joersz, and Emil (Hildegarde) Moos; 4 sister-in-laws; and 2 brother-in-laws.
Special thanks to the staff at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for their wonderful care and kindness to mom during her 9 years there.
Memorials are preferred to Almont Lutheran Church, Almont, ND.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am CST on Monday, August 4 at Almont United Lutheran Church, Almont, with Pastoral Intern William Dodd officiating. Burial will be at the Almont Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm CST on Sunday, August 3 at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, followed by prayer service at 7 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Helen was born October 15, 1920 to Herman and Martha (Borchers) Joersz in Morton County. She was baptized on November 21, 1920 and confirmed August 4, 1935 in New Salem. Helen attended school through the 6th grade. On March 26, 1944 she married Norman Kilen and they made their home in the New Salem-Almont area where they raised their five children. Helen was Norman’s right hand in farming and ranching. She was a talented homemaker and enjoyed needlework, gardening, baking, flowers, pets, listening to accordion music, playing harmonica, and especially loved children.
After Norman died in June of 1977 she continued living on the farm until 1991 when she moved to Mandan, where she lived for 14 years. In 2005 Helen moved to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck where she made many friends, enjoyed the music, bingo, needlework, and all of the visits she had.
Blessed to have shared her life are her children, Carol (Duane) Zimmerman, Mandan, Arlene (Eddie) Becknell, Bismarck, Ethel (Doug) Heald, Sunrise Beach, Missouri, and Dwight (Colleen) Kilen, Bismarck; son-in-law, Bert Esser, Hoogeveen, Netherlands; 12 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; Norman’s siblings, Ethleen Hoovestol and Charlotte (Edwin) Thiel, both of New Salem, Virgil Kilen, Thornton (Caroline) Kilen, and Tharen (Mary) Kilen, all of Mandan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter, Norma; three sisters and three brothers, Ella (Carl) Westmeyer, Emma (Walter) Matthisen, Arnold (Florence) Joersz, Kathryn (Henry) Joersz, Bill (Florence) Joersz, and Emil (Hildegarde) Moos; 4 sister-in-laws; and 2 brother-in-laws.
Special thanks to the staff at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for their wonderful care and kindness to mom during her 9 years there.
Memorials are preferred to Almont Lutheran Church, Almont, ND.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Kilen, please visit our flower store.