Helen Klinsing

HELEN LOUISE KLINSING was born to Wilhelm and Katherine (Dahle) Larson in Scarville, Iowa on May 19, 1933. As a young child, she moved with her family to a farm near Scarville, Iowa. She was raised on the farm and attended school in Scarville. After she graduated from Scarville High School in 1952, she attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa where she graduated in 1954 with her Associates Degree in education. Upon completion of her education, she taught school in Bode, Iowa. One year later, she moved to Osage, Iowa where she taught for three years. Then she moved to Hastings, Minnesota and taught there for five years. During this time, she attended night classes and summer school at Mankato State University to work toward her Bachelor of Science degree which she received in the summer of 1962. In 1963, she moved to Pipestone and began teaching at Brown Elementary School. On July 12, 1964, she was united in marriage to James Klinsing in Scarville, Iowa. Following their marriage, they resided in Pipestone where Helen continued to teach. In 1974, she began teaching at the Pipestone Middle School (when the sixth grade was moved) and she continued teaching there until her retirement in May of 1991. Jim preceded her in death on December 4, 2009. After his death, Helen continued to live in her own home until December, 2020 when she became a resident at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone. She died there peacefully on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 20 days.

Helen was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Pipestone where she was active in the Ladies Guild. She was also a member of the Pipestone Education Association, the Minnesota Education Association, and the National Education Association. She enjoyed her hobbies of sewing and working on crafts. She started the hospice quilt program and was awarded Friend of Hospice 2015' she was always very proud of her involvement in the Hospice Program in Pipestone.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children, David and his wife Cindy Klinsing of Plymouth, Minnesota, Diane Munns of Pipestone, Minnesota, Mary and her husband Lee (Leland) Rydell of Flandreau, South Dakota, and Steve and his wife Karen Klinsing of Chanhassen, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Kathleen Larson of Scarville, Iowa, and Pauline Larson of Mason City, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Klinsing; her parents; and two brothers, Wayne (Beverly) Larson and Larry Larson.