Delores "Lorrie" Marie Helke

The Lord called our mom, Delores (Lorrie) Marie Helke, 85, on the morning of Tuesday, March 14. She was born on July 1, 1931 in St. Paul, MN to Arthur Banick and Augusta Grosskopf. Mom was the matriarch of our Helke clan who enjoyed her flowers, rock gardens, trips, and birds. Many hours were spent sitting and watching her hummingbirds and the many dragonflies that grace the farm. Our mom was very proud of her family and was so excited to find her birth father’s family in California and being united with them. Delores married Earl Helke on February 16, 1949 in Stoddard. She had worked at Plasco for many years and was a member of First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse and the Mother’s Club at church.

She is survived by a son Steven (Lori) Helke of La Crosse, five daughters, Sandra (David) Minor of La Crosse, Denise Helke-Chase of New Town, ND, Michele (Terry) Robertson of La Crosse, Susan (Paul) Stumlin of La Crosse and Laurie (Todd Reineke) Peterson of La Crosse, 26 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, a sister Marcia (George) Hoffman of Kansasville, WI, two brothers, Leonard (Marie) Stettner of Bismark, ND and Charles (Jennifer) Stettner of La Crosse, numerous nieces and nephews, and her sons and daughters of the heart; Dave and Steph Bowne of La Crosse and Jodi Hoscheit of Brice Prairie. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl, her parents, three brothers, five sisters, two sons-in-law, George Putnam and Virgil Chase, daughter Jean Geiwitz and a grandson Kenny Minor. A special thanks to all the angels family and non-family who were in mom’s life.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 11:00 AM at First Ev. Lutheran Church. Pastor Roger Sachs will officiate. Burial will be in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Services of La Crosse on Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Online guestbook is available at www.schumacher-kish.com .