Helen Oberholtzer

Funeral Services for Helen Oberholtzer will be held Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Pastor Tom Olson officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Wednesday evening at the Ranney Funeral Chapel in Wheaton. There will be a 7:00 PM prayer service Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Wheaton. Helen passed away Monday morning at the Park River Estates in Coon Rapids, MN. She was 86 years old. Helen was born on August 10, 1921 on the family farm near Elbow Lake, to Clarence and Edna (Pearl) Hall. She attended country school and graduated from Elbow Lake High School. She married Olaf Sethre from Carlisle, MN on October 30, 1941. They had two children: Wanda and Juneal. In October of 1947, they purchased the Gamble store in Wheaton. Three years later, in February of 1950, Olaf died of a heart attack at the age of 30. Helen continued to run the Hardware store for many years. In 1957, Helen then married Gail Oberholtzer of Clinton, MN. They had 2 children: Jeffrey and Holly. In 1962 they moved to Big Stone Lake where they farmed and Helen worked at Red Owl, Laguna Beach Supper Club, and Foster Lodge. While working 2 full time jobs and a part time job, she managed also to help Gail with the cattle and sheep. One day while driving home from a long day at work, Helen fell asleep at the wheel and sustained many serious injuries from the car accident. Those injuries are suspected to have maybe been the start of her Parkinsons disease. After retirement they moved to Graceville and became very active in the Senior Citizens group. Helen loved to play cards, and spent many late nights in Ortonville playing cards, after which she would put on a mans hat for the drive home, so no one would know a lone woman was out that late. She was well known for wrapping her hair with toilet paper, so as not to mess up her hair while sleeping. Her grandchildren had lots of fun with that. Helen was always there for her family and helping them any way she could. She loved garage sales, and would always help any of her family to organize one. Helen has lived at the Park River Estates in Coon Rapids for the last 5 years. While there, her roommate, Helen Dooday became a very special friend to Helen and her family and watched over Helen as her health gradually declined. She enjoyed going out to eat and going shopping with the girls, but most of all, she loved to spend time with her family. Helen is survived by 4 children: Wanda (Jerry) Berger of Wheaton, Juneal (Sid) Goltz of Forest Lake, MN, Jeff Oberholtzer of Ortonville, Holly Spitzer and special friend Rick Gustafson of East Bethel, 1 sister: Rose Stadum of Fergus Falls, 2 sisters-in-law: Dorothy Hall and Pearl (Floyd) Issendorf of Clinton, 9 grandchildren: Sherry Berger, Chadd (Kelly) Berger, Stacy (Jeff) Nessett, Scott (Luana) Goltz, Randy (Michelle Goltz), Travis (Erin) Goltz, Kelsey Spitzer, Crystal (Alan) Turner, Kyle Spitzer, 16 great grandchildren: Joshua Fridgen, Kyla Karger, Jeremiah Morrissette, Tyler Goltz, Paul Berger, Tristin Goltz, Sydnie Goltz, Derek Nessett, Eric Berger, Kaylie Goltz, Ciara Turner, Jordon Goltz, Ben Hooper, Jadyn Nessett, Emily Berger, and Ayanna Gipson. She was preceded in death by 2 husbands, a sister: LuVern Olson, a brother: John Hall and her parents. The family thanks everyone who brought sunshine into Helens life.

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