Helen Hemish, age 86, of rural Canby, MN passed away on Friday, September 4, 2020 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 11:00am on Thursday, September 10th at Christ Lutheran Church in Hendricks, MN. Visitation will be 5 to 7pm on Wednesday, September 9th at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the East Hendricks Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

Helen Ann Christopherson was born to Martin and Gina (Sommervold) Christopherson on December 21, 1933, in Hendricks, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church. She attended country school and graduated from Hendricks High School in 1951. Helen was united in marriage to Walter Hemish on October 19, 1957, at Calvary Lutheran Church. They farmed in Fortier Township where they raised their 5 children. Helen worked at the Hendricks High School as a Secretary, then stayed home to raise their children and help on the farm, later working for the Canby Sanford Hospital. She also worked at area nurseries and was an active member of the Christ/Calvary Lutheran Church and VFW Auxiliary.  Helen was a special and talented lady who loved people and always made others laugh. She loved to garden, cook, dance, rescue cats, and especially enjoyed outings to local casinos. She will be remembered for the deep love she had for her family, and for being generous, kind, and caring, especially to the many animals she raised. Helen was very proud of the fact that she was still independently living on the family farm. We will miss you beautiful, sweet, feisty little lady!

Helen died on Friday, September 4, 2020, at Sanford Hospital Sioux Falls after a brief unexpected illness. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her 5 children: Steve (Kim) Hemish, St. Cloud, MN, Julie Hemish, Brooklyn Park, MN, Brian (Laurie) Hemish, Brainerd, MN, Brad (Suzanne) Hemish, Princeton, MN, and Jill (Ross Kegler) Hemish, Lynbrook, NY; 7 grandchildren: Andrew (Calley), Kaitlin, Allie (Wyatt Christiansen), Jacob (Bree Hansen), Daniel, Alexis, and Nicholas; 1 great grandchild: Evelyn; several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Helen was preceded in death by her husband Walter; her parents; her siblings: Harry, Clifford, Leonard, and Kenneth Christopherson, Cora Pederson, Pearl Bergman, Viola Kloskin, Vada Blom, Joyce Anderson, and Alice Leuning.