Helen Duchene

Helen Duchene, age 89, died Monday, December 21, 2009 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A visitation will be held Sunday, December 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre with a rosary at 7 p.m. A second visitation will be held on Monday, December 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a rosary at 11:30 a.m. at the Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Bird Island, Minnesota. Interment will follow St. Mary's Cemetery in Bird Island, Minnesota.

Helen Cecilia Schmoll was born December 17, 1920 in Bird Island, Minnesota to Joseph and Marie (Amberg) Schmoll. Helen graduated from St. Mary's High School in Bird Island. On April 14, 1941 she was united in marriage to Samuel Duchene at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bird Island. The couple farmed in Bird Island until moving to the Padua area in 1956. In February 2009, Helen moved from the family farm in Padua to Riverview Manor in Sauk Centre and for the last month, she resided at St. Michael's Nursing Home.

Helen enjoyed sewing and quilting. For many years, she made wedding cakes. She also enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and she raised chickens into her 80's. Helen also had a love for nature.

Survivors include her children, Joseph (Marlys) Duchene of Tucson, Arizona, Gregory (Diane) Duchene of Sauk Centre, LaVonne (Richard) Hellerman of Sauk Centre, Robert (Carol) Duchene of Sauk Centre, Paul (Nancy) Duchene of Bradenton, Florida, David (Diane) Duchene of New York Mills, Marianna (Stanley) Lush of Willmar, Rosemary (Paul) Martin of Abington, Massachusetts, Kevin (Helen) Duchene of Villard, Bernadette (Robert) Eystad of Donnelly, Daniel Duchene of Sauk Centre, and Jeanne (Dennis) Luethmers of Cold Spring; 43 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Samuel Duchene on March 28, 1963; grandson, Chad Hellerman; and brothers, Vern, Steve, and Bob Schmoll.

Serving as casket bearers will be her grandsons, Mike Duchene, Pat Duchene, Scott Duchene, Jon Duchene, Cody Luethmers, Charles Duchene, Samuel Duchene, and Adam Duchene.