Helen Dorothy Wood

Helen was born in Fargo, ND on February 8, 1924, the fourth of six children.  Shortly after, her father took a teaching job in Spearfish, SD where they lived until World War II scattered the family.  All of the siblings talked fondly of growing up in the Black Hills.  They enjoyed being outside riding bikes, roaming the hills, playing in the “crick,” etc. 

After graduating from high school at age 17, Helen worked for a year before attending St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.  After one year at St. Olaf, Helen decided on a teaching career.  Since there wasn’t an early education major offered, she decided to take a year off to earn money to continue her studies.  Because these were war years and jobs were plentiful in defense plants, she moved to Los Angeles and worked for Northrup in an aircraft factory as a “Rosie the riveter.”  She returned to Minnesota and attended Miss Woods Teacher’s College, graduating in 1946.  She then taught kindergarten in Rice Lake, WI for one year before returning to Minneapolis.

Chuck and Helen were married on July 20, 1947 in Powell, WY where her parents were living.  They spent their honeymoon in Yellowstone National Park and returned to Minnesota to start their lives together.  Helen taught kindergarten for two years in Richfield before Jim was born.  Two more children followed, contributing to the post-war baby boom. 

Chuck and Helen were active charter members of Wood Lake Lutheran Church.  Helen was a Sunday school teacher, girl scout leader for 12 (!) years, was active in the PTA, played piano, was a substitute teacher.  As the children became teenagers, Helen returned to teaching and directed a preschool in Minneapolis.

1971 was a year of change for the Wood family.  Chuck was transferred to Denver for a new job, Dottie left for college, Jim was in the Army and sent to Viet Nam and our exchange student from Ecuador left to return to her home.  Bill was the only one of the children who moved to Denver with them.  Initially, Helen admitted to some loneliness, but soon found friends in the neighborhood, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and through Newcomers Club.  She enjoyed hiking and learned to cross-country ski.  Colorado has a great climate for the outdoor activities she always loved.  She even played tennis well into her 80’s before her declining vision forced her to stop.

Her teaching license didn’t transfer to Colorado so she found other activities to pursue.  She set up a craft room in their basement where she did small quilting projects, sewing, macrame, knitting, etc.  She loved baking bread and slathering it with butter and homemade jam.  She often gifted friends with a small loaf of fresh bread and a jar of her jelly.  She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and enjoyed making lefse and krumkake at Christmas time, a tradition we continue. 

Helen enjoyed meeting people from other countries and learning about their lives and cultures.  Over the years, they hosted several students from other countries through the AFS high school exchange program and through ACC:  Cecilia from Ecuador, Anne from Denmark, Pascal from Switzerland, Saleh from Kuwait, Kazu from Japan and Ibrahim from Saudi Arabia.

After Chuck retired and started down the long road of Alzheimer’s disease, their lives slowed down and centered more around their home, family and friends.  She continued enjoying being outdoors whether roasting hot dogs at Chatfield State Park or going to grandchildren’s soccer and basketball games.  She loved her family, loved her friends, loved her church and enjoyed life.  Chuck died in 2008.

While her last few years were difficult ones with both physical and cognitive challenges, Helen adapted to her changing needs with her usual practicality and grace.  She made the decision when she could no longer take care of Chuck, when to move out of their house, when to stop driving and when it was time for assisted living.  She was a model for how to accept those changes and it was a gift to her family for her to make those decisions.  While no one would choose to spend their last months in memory care, Helen remained sweet, loving and considerate of others to the very end.

Helen is survived by her three children: Jim (Sherry), Dottie Tarvestad (Keith Winkel) and Bill (Karen) as well as 5 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and a multitude of friends and extended family.  She will be missed, but will live on in our hearts and treasured memories.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18 at 10:00 am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 6322 S Lakeview St, Littleton, CO  80120

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to:

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
6322 S Lakeview Street
Littleton, CO  80120

OR

Someren Glen Employee Appreciation Fund, Checks can be made to Christian Living Communities (or CLC), with In Memory of Helen Wood in the memo line.
Christian Living Communities
Donor Relations
9570 S. Kingston Ct., Ste. 300
Englewood, CO 80112

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