Helen Holmes, 89, of Ellendale

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 2, 2005

The Funeral Service for Helen J. Holmes, of Ellendale, will be held at 11a.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale. The Rev. Gary Liker will officiate. Interment will be in Geneva Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church.

Helen died on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, at the New Richland Care Center. She was 89.

She was born Oct. 11, 1916, the 2nd of seven daughters to Harold and Nelsena (Skow) Ferguson. She was delivered on the Ferguson family farm in Summit Township by Dr. E.Q. Ertel.

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Helen graduated from Ellendale High School in 1934, and from Naeve School of Nursing in 1938.

She was united in marriage to Harry N. Holmes on June 7, 1939, at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale.

Together they farmed and raised a family near Beaver Lake.

After her five children were grown, Helen worked as a nurse for several years at Naeve Hospital.

She was forever a caregiver and volunteered for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and continued much bedside care for others throughout her life.

She was a active member of the United Methodist Church.

Helen enjoyed music, especially sharing it with her six singing sisters. She also did much handywork, including handstitched quilts for each of her grandchildren.

Helen is survived by five children: Barbara (Ryner) Van Wyngeeren of Geneva, Richard (Karen) Holmes of Ellendale, Cynthia (Russell) Nelson of Ellendale, Anthony (Renee) Holmes of Ellendale, Anita (Lester) Casterton of Clarks Grove; nine grandchildren: Marcia (Kevin) Jensen of Red Wing, Mark (Jane) Hemingway of Delano, Lisa (Scott) Rietsema of Audobon, Scott (Shelly) Holmes of Mantorville, Todd (Mary) Nelson of Faribault, Sara (Brian) Wencl of Owatonna, Colette Holmes of Blooming Prairie, Andrea (Kane) Malo of Northrop, Aaron Casterton of Waseca; 15 great grandchildren: Rachael and Megan Jensen, Emily, Michael and Katie Hemingway, Laura(Aaron) Ackland ,

Missy and Dustin Rietsema, Katelynn and Jacklynn Holmes, Zachary, Matthew and Lucas Nelson, Trase and Tyler Wencl, great great grandson Elijah Ackland, sisters Wanda Christensen of Ellendale, Anna Foster of Red Wing,

Beulah Crabtree of Ellendale, Alice Richards of Ellendale, Mildred (Gerald) Flugum of St. James, Roselyn (Eldon) Peterson of Hayfield, nieces Naomi (Al) Richards of Surprise, Ariz. and Bonnie Sloan of Blooming Prairie, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry in 2003, three grandchildren: Amy Holmes in 1977, Kim Sletten in 1985, Matthew Nelson in 1997; brothers-in-law: Stephen Fischer, Jim Christensen, Fred Foster, C. Henry Crabtree, Dick Richards, S.A. (Leatha) Holmes, sister-in-law Clara (Ernest) Sloan,

nephew Donald Sloan.