Helen E Olsen

Helen E. Olsen, 91 of Barnum passed away peacefully on Friday, May 30, 2014 in Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. She was born Sept. 8, 1922 in Moose Lake to William and Inga Reimers. Helen grew up in Moose Lake and attended Moose Lake schools. Helen met the love of her life, Harold Olsen, on the 4th of July 1939 and they were married on December 2, 1939 in Carlton. In 1944 they purchased a farm in Barnum and began the Green Hill Guernsey Farm. Helen and Harold farmed and raised their family until selling the farm to their son, Kenny in 1979. Helen was a wonderful mom and a working farm wife. In addition to raising her own eight children she took in foster children as well. She enjoyed all the Guernsey cattle, cattle shows, and all the dignitaries that came to visit the farm. When Helen retired from the farm she was active in community plays, school activities, and several community committees. She enjoyed dancing, spending time with her family, and just enjoyed her life to the fullest. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; brothers, Walter, Leonard, and Richard Reimers; sisters, Evelyn Anderson and Laura Robertson; son-in-law, Russell Wekseth; great grandson, Dalton Mikyska; and special son, Joe Wojtysiak. She is survived by two sons, Chris (Lois) of North Pole, Alaska and Ken (Joyce) of Barnum; six daughters, Clarice (Porter) Huddleson of Hager City, Wisc., Cass Wekseth of Moose Lake, Sonja (Tom) Duesler of Barnum, Val "Katie" (Joe) Mikyska of Pine City, Tora (Wayne) Carlson of North Branch, and Shelley "Sam" Hartman of Barnum; sister, Ruth Smith of Moose Lake; 22 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren; and 11 great great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at the Lighthouse of Barnum and Inter-Faith Care Center for their loving and compassionate care of Helen. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014 in the Barnum Community United Methodist Church in Barnum. Visitation will continue from 10 until the 11 a.m. Memorial Service Wednesday, June 4th also in the church. A time of lunch and fellowship will follow in the church social hall.