Carol Ann Helle

Carol Ann Helle, age 94, longtime resident of Edmore, ND, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society in Park River, ND.

Carol Ryba was born February 11, 1918 to Frank and Mary (Kasal) Ryba near Lawton, ND, where they farmed in Shepherd Township of Walsh County. On August 17, 1944 she married Edval Donald Helle Sr. in Adams, ND. They lived in Washington and then California, where Carol worked in an airplane plant while Ed was in the U.S. Navy. They moved to Oconto, WI, where their son David was born in 1947. They moved to Michigan, ND in 1948, where Dianne was born that year and Ed started working at the Johnson Store there. In 1949 they moved to Whitman to manage the Johnson Store. Edval Jr. was born there in 1951, and in 1952 they moved to Edmore to manage and later purchase the Johnson Store in 1959. Their son Randy was born in 1957 at the Edmore Memorial Hospital. Carol used to Hem the pants that were sold in the store and process all the coupons that customers turned in. She was always a good housekeeper and cook with a hot meal every morning. Ed & Carol were members of the Edmore Methodist Church and other community organizations. In 1963 they purchased a farm ½ mile east of Edmore, but resided in town. They retired in 1983. Their son Edval Jr. still runs the store, and son Randy and his wife Kristi (Samuelson) run the farm and Helle Flying Service. Ed died July 25, 2000. Carol later moved to the Edmore Rest Home and then Park River Good Samaritan Society in January 2010.

Carol is survived by 3 sons, David in Puyallup, WA, Edval Jr. and Randy (Kristi) in Edmore, and 1 daughter, Dianne (Jerome) Koltes in Ponder, TX. Carol is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Lauri (Kevin) Kiehn, Troy (Melanie) Helle, and Carmen Helle; Deborah (Richard) Plett, Shari (Stuart) York, John (Charity) Koltes, Jason (Heather) Koltes, and Maria (Greg) Jeffers; Tracy Carlson and Ashley (Dusty) Samuelson; Michael Helle and Amanda Helle; 30 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Margarette Haave and Shirley Kyllonen; and 2 brothers, Melvin Ryba and Duane (Delores) Ryba.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edval Helle Sr.; grandson, Greg Helle; 2 sisters, Emma (Ernest) Pic and Lillian (George) Rysavy; and an infant brother, Frank Ryba Jr.

Carol's Funeral Service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church of Edmore on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Don Reynolds. Interment will be at the Edmore Cemetery. The casketbearers will be all of Carol's grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Thursday, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.