Helen Perkins

Monday, April 18, 2016 8:34 pm

Helen Perkins, 92, of Cresco, died Monday, April 11, 2016, at Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at First Lutheran Church in Cresco, with burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Cresco. Friends called from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco and at the church for an hour prior to services.

Helen Perkins was born May 6, 1923, in Swanville, Minn. Helen grew up on a dairy farm and attended high school in Swanville, where her cousin introduced her to Don Perkins. After graduating from high school she attended Sauk Center Community College, where they continued their courtship. Helen completed her undergraduate degree in home economics at the University of Minnesota. They were married in June 1944 before Don left for World War II. Two years later Helen found a job as the first Lutheran student counselor at Iowa State University, where Don later received a degree in veterinarian medicine.  They moved to Mediapolis, where Don started his veterinary practice. In 1969 Helen was hired as the Howard and Winneshiek home economist, where she spent the next 20 years. Helen retired in 1990 from the Extension Service and enjoyed horseback riding with her husband, family and many friends. During retirement she wrote a grant to start the first public child care center – Kessel Kids. She also was active in Friends in Council, First Lutheran Church and numerous city activities and programs. Helen spent the last five years as a resident of Evans Memorial Home where she always had a smile and encouraged everyone to play cribbage.

Helen is survived by six children and their spouses/significant others: Robert Perkins and Joni Evans of New York, Ann and Lanny Fields of Knoxville, Carin Perkins and Richard Webb of Spooner, Wis., Teresa Beckham of Sheridan, Wyo., Ed and Rhonda Perkins of Excelsior, Minn., Faye Perkins and Joe McIntosh of River Falls, Wis. and Gretchen White and Lonnie Steenhard, of Cresco; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Don; a son, Donald Richard; and her brother, Nick Truog.

Helen leaves behind many friends and family who will miss her smile, her love for family, her independent spirit, her amazing cribbage talents and her organizational abilities.