Helen "Grandma Helen" Sowatzki

Helen “Grandma Helen” Sowatzki, went home to her Savior, Saturday, June 30, 2007 at the age of 93. Funeral Services for Helen will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Devils Lake on Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Rafe Allison will officiate and burial will be in the Scandinavia Cemetery, rural Webster, ND. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake, ND on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present after 5:00 p.m. Serving as Casket Bearers for Helen will be her grandchildren, Matthew Johnson, Heidi Romain, Shannon Heffern, Melissa Douez, Shane Sowatzki, Stacy Sowatzki, Kelly Sowatzki, Cheri Luc, Brian Sowatzki, Lindsey Fields and Whitney Kirchgasler. Music will be congregational hymns with Brenda Swenseth as pianist. Helen was born February 25, 1914, the daughter of Edwin and LuLu (Griffin) Ek at Fox Lake, Wisconsin. She grew up north of Devils Lake and attended grade school in Morris Township. Education was important to Helen and although she was unable to complete high school as a teen, she later completed her GED as an adult in the early 1970’s. Helen was united in marriage to Edward Sowatzki in Devils Lake on June 25, 1938. Helen and Ed farmed and raised their family in Pelican Township, near Penn, ND. Helen had a special love for animals and cared for many of them throughout the years. She also had a passion for caring for others and while raising her own family the household often included others as well. After her youngest child left home Helen began taking Foster children into her home, as well as caring for her disabled husband until his death in 1979. Helen later moved into Devils Lake and continued to care for children. During her years as a foster parent Helen cared for well over 100 children. At the age of 80, due to an automobile accident, she was unable to continue in foster care, but continued to extend hospitality to all who came through her door. Helen enjoyed poetry, crossword puzzles and all those who knew her, enjoyed her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. She was a past member of the Norway Lutheran Church and currently was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. Helen is survived by her Sons: Gary Sowatzki and his wife, Jan of Devils Lake Don Sowatzki and his wife, Barb also Devils Lake Daughters: Lauri Kirchgasler and her husband, Steve of Devils Lake Lorna Kennedy and her husband, John of Great Falls, Montana Sharon Jeanotte and her husband, Gus of Joliet, Montana Eleven grandchildren Twelve Great Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed Sowatzki, two sisters, Violet Thompson and LouElla Kleinschmidt; an infant daughter and an infant granddaughter. Memorials may be directed to the Scandinavia Cemetery for cemetery upkeep.