Ruth G. Helin

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Ruth G. Helin, 91, of Gile, Wis., passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood, with her family by her side.

She was born June 13, 1925, in Ishpeming, to Niilo and Hilma (Ruslin) Augustson. She lived in Republic and moved to Hurley, Wis., as a young child. She attended Cary and Hurley schools, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1942.

Ruth was united in marriage to Raymond W. Helin on May 24, 1947, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood. They lived in Gile until 1964, when they relocated to Beaver Dam, Wis., where Ruth was employed at the Wisconsin Correctional Institution in Fox Lake, Wis. In 1973, they returned to Gile and Ruth was employed by Grand View Hospital, Northern Community Mental Health Center and the Gogebic County Department of Social Services before retiring in 1990.

Ruth was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she served as a council member, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and as a member of various committees, including the Montreal Martha Circle. She enjoyed knitting and made hundreds of hats and booties for newborn babies as a volunteer at the Grand View Hospital. She also enjoyed making jigsaw puzzles, sewing, cross-stitching, working in her yard and flower garden and spending time with family and friends.

Surviving are a daughter, Donna (Steven Gaiser) Helin, Bloomington, Minn .; son, Kurtis (Margaret) Helin, Madison, Wis .; grandchildren, Heather (Ryan) Reeves, San Diego, and Jeffrey Helin, Palm Desert, Calif .; great-grandchildren, Owen and Ayla Reeves, San Diego; brother-in-law, David (Shelby) Helin, Bloomer, Wis .; nieces, Kris (Keith) Hanson, Karen (Tim) Trowbridge and Karla (Scott) Sokop, all of Wisconsin, and Jeanne Morzenti (John Davis), Oma, Wis .; nephew, Robert Garreau, Waunakee, Wis .; extended family, Sharon, Amy and Richard Frigo Jr., Waupun, Wis .; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and lifelong friend, Peggy Gerry, of Hurley.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 111 S. Curry St., in Ironwood, with Pastor Kurt Kovanen officiating.

Committal and interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall immediately upon return from the cemetery. All are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Ruth's family would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kate Wicklund for her support and daily visits during the past year, which Ruth thoroughly enjoyed. Special thanks are offered to Gary Erickson and Tyler Wicklund for their attention to snow removal and lawn care for Ruth, as well as Dale and Jim Wicklund for home maintenance and repairs when needed. Many thanks to Donald Saari for transporting Ruth to the Hurley Senior Center. A heartfelt thanks is also given to the staff of Westgate and to Regional Hospice for their loving care during the past 15 months.