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Helen Christensen • 1923 - 2011 Helen G. Stusrud was born February 21, 1923, in McVille, to Kalmer and Emma (Johnson) Stusrud. After graduating from McVille High School, Helen attended college at Minot State University, eventually receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Business Education. While teaching at Flaxton, North Dakota, after receiving her two-year Standard Teaching Certificate, she met her future husband, Carlyle Christensen. They were married in Illinois on August 26, 1944. They had two daughters, Karen and Cathy, spending the first nine years of their marriage in Flaxton and Bowbells before moving to Minot, where they lived from 1954 and on. In addition to teaching at Sanish and Flaxton, Helen taught three years at Surrey, then taught in Minot for 21 years. Six of those years she taught third grade. She then received special training and spent 15 years as Resource Teacher for Blind and Visually Impaired students. She began that program in the Minot school system, and was its first such teacher. She and Carlyle retired in 1984. Carlyle passed away December 18, 1993. Helen’s family, her church, and the schools were always vitally important to her. She was a tireless worker for those entities, but her two granddaughters, Karla and Corene, were her special pride and joy. Even during the two years of her final illness, Helen continued to enjoy socializing with her neighbors at the Marian Heights Condominium and with her dear friends in her “birthday club.” She remained active as a volunteer in her church until very recently, and remained a member of her church’s Dorcas/Faith Circle, Delta Kappa Gamma, Golden Oaks PTA, and the Retired Teachers’ Association. Helen lived her life to the fullest until the end, uplifted always by her deep Christian faith, which was demonstrated even up through her last words on earth. Helen is survived by her daughters, Karen McBride and her longtime companion, Richard Riha, Bismarck; and Cathy Knutson and her husband, Kristian; Voltaire; and her granddaughters, Karla Knutson and her husband Lukas Andrud, West Fargo; and Corene Knutson, Devils Lake; as well as two sisters-in-law and various nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlyle; by her parents, Emma and Kalmer Stusrud; by her only sister, Pearl Stusrud; and by four sisters-in-law. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude especially to the staff of Trinity Hospice for their loving care of Helen; to her birthday club; and to her neighbors at the Marian Heights Condominium. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 13, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1800 Hiawatha Street SE, Minot, with the Rev. John Streccius officiating.
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Helen Christensen, 88, Minot, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, August 7,