Helen Marie Thaden of Albert Lea, Minn., formerly of Dexter, Minn. passed away on April 4, 2014, at the age of 91 years and 6 days.

Helen was born to Lloyd and Alma (Schoentag) Bloomer March 29, 1923, in Faribault, Minn. Her mother was ill and passed away when Helen was 3-years-old. Lloyd later married Katherine Luff who helped raise Helen along with Helen’s brother, Harold, and sister Barbara on the family farm near Morristown, Minn.

Helen graduated from Morristown High School in May 1941 as valedictorian of her class. She attended Mankato Commercial College and then was employed first as a secretary for an attorney, and then as Deputy Clerk of Probate for a judge in Faribault. While attending college, Helen made the acquaintance of other girls who were attending either business or beauty school. Nine college friends began writing a  “round robin” letter in 1945 to keep in touch. These treasured letters between friends continued almost 65 years.

One of these girls was Alma Thaden, and in January of 1942 Helen went home with her for a visit and met Alma’s brother Harold, who would be her future husband. Harold and Helen got engaged on March 29, 1943, Helen’s 20th birthday, and were married on April 14, 1945, at the Methodist Church in Morristown. After Harold completed his military service, they moved to the farm near Dexter on Feb. 28, 1947. They farmed together for 25 years until renting it out in 1972. Helen helped by driving tractor, truck or doing whatever was needed. She resided on the farm until moving to Bancroft Creek Apartments in Albert Lea in December of 2009, and more recently she resided at Prairie Senior Cottages, also in Albert Lea.

Harold and Helen spent the winters in Texas from 1979 to 2007, living in Brownsville, San Benito and Harlingen, where they enjoyed the company of many good friends. Helen was very active in her church serving as church treasurer, administrative board secretary, doing the advertising for the turkey supper for over 25 years, and singing in the choir. She was also known as the “flower lady,” planting and tending the church flower beds for many years as well as bringing arrangements for the church altar.

Helen loved her flowers, tending extensive flower beds at her home with many varieties of perennials and annuals that she was always willing to share with others. She sewed and made Christmas stockings to send to children in Mexico and quilts for family and friends. Helen enjoyed a variety of craft projects including Hardanger, oil painting and jewelry making and gave many special items to family and friends. She started writing in a diary in 1941, and later wrote on a calendar, keeping a daily record of her life for 73 years. She loved taking pictures and was very organized and detailed in maintaining her many photo albums and scrapbooks. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Helen is survived by her children, Russell (Merry) Thaden of Atchison, Kan., Dennis (Mary Jo) of Robbinsdale, Minn., Beth (Bruce) Andersland of Emmons, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren with several on the way; one brother, Harold (Harlean) Bloomer of Morristown, Minn.; one sister, Barbara Bloomer of Sauk Rapids, Minn., and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold, in 2007, and one grandson, Nicholas  Chase.

Funeral services will be held at the Dexter United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and one hour before the service at the church.

Memorials preferred to donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent at www.worlein.com