Helen Ruth Karinen

Helen Karinen 98, passed away peacefully with family by her side on July 18, 2023. She will be remembered as a kind, intelligent, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Helen Ruth Lenzen was born July 14, 1925 at her farm in East Lake, Minnesota to Edward and Elsie Lenzen. She had family memories of picnics at Lake Mille Lacs and fireworks over Moose Lake. She attended a one room school until going to McGregor High School. Helen graduated as valedictorian in 1943. She always valued education and learning.

Helen moved to St. Paul and lived at the YWCA. She took a secretarial class and worked as a secretary on Capitol Hill. In January 1947, through a mutual friend, she met Ray Karinen. They were married at the Presbyterian Church on August 27, 1947. After marriage, Helen, stopped work to raise daughter Karen and son Bob. After the children were raised, she became a church secretary at several locations.

Ray was the “love of her life” for 60 years. The couple loved traveling to many places. They visited England, China, Israel, Europe, Finland, and Australia. Helen’s family was very important to her. She and Ray attended numerous graduations, weddings, recitals, and sporting events of family members.

Helen was talented with numbers and was passionate about politics. Her interests were many: bowling, theater, quilting, needlework, and ancestral research. She designed and hand quilted a quilt for each grandchild. In 1976, Helen became a member of PEO in Minnesota. She was interested in furthering education of young women, which this organization supports.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Elsie Lenzen, brother Leonard, and husband Ray.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Patrick (husband Terry) and son Bob Karinen (wife Audrey), five grandchildren: Ken Patrick (wife Tracey), Christy Marquardt (husband Anthony), Kelly Karinen (husband Peter), Erin Fisher (husband Doug), and Zak Karinen (wife Carolyn). Helen was blessed with 7 great-grandchildren: Jordyn and Xander Fisher, Abi Bauman, Lily and Weston Patrick, Bella and Brendan Marquardt.

Memorial service will be held on August 13, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Columbine United Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to PEO Chapter CQ or Columbine United Church.

Interment will be at Fort Logan, next to Ray.

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