Funeral services for Helen L. Thompson, age 89, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Ascension Lutheran Church. The Rev. David Beckstrom will officiate. Interment will be in East Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Helen died Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home.

Helen Luella Thompson was born Sept. 13, 1917, to Bennie and Tina (Jellum) Bjerke. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1935 and attended Teacher&8217;s Training in Wells for two years before teaching in country school. In 1935, Helen was named Miss Healthy Minnesota, which influenced the way she lived the rest of her life.

Helen married Wallace E. Thompson July 2, 1939. The couple farmed near Hayward and later rural Albert Lea. They moved to Blooming Prairie in 1965, where Helen was employed at Super Value. Wallace and Helen moved back to Albert Lea in the early 90s. Helen has been a resident of St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home for the last nine years.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley (Curtis) Miller; sons, Ron (Judy) Thompson and Denny Thompson; grandchildren: LaRae (Rob) Rankin, Lynette (Mike) Fox, Daryld (Stacey) Miller, Duane Miller, Andrew Thompson, and Troy (fianc/e Tamisha) Thompson; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Byron (Elaine) Bjerke and Orval Bjerke; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Bjerke, Bernice Thompson, Olive Thompson, Grace Arneson, Harriet Broskoff, and Elaine Erickson; brothers-in-law: Palmer (Marjorie) Thompson, Earl (Bev) Thompson, Paul (Mary) Thompson, and David (Marlene) Thompson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wallace in August 1999; brother, Bill Bjerke; sister, Stella Bakken; brother-in-law, Junior Bakken; and sister-in-law, Lois Bjerke.

Special thanks to North Trail Neighborhood at St. John&8217;s for years of special care for Helen. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.