Helen G. Ikel

Helen Geraldine Ikel nee Erickson was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on January 4, 1929. On March 26, 2016, with her family surrounding her, she went peacefully into the presence of the LORD. Her long life was well lived and she was cherished by her family and friends. She was a devoted wife, a very beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Helen spent her early years growing up in Bismarck 1929, Josephine 1939, and Fargo 1943, North Dakota where she graduated from Fargo High School in 1947. She married Jack Ikel on August 5, 1948 at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. Helen and Jack spent most of their first twenty years of marriage in Moorhead, Minnesota, with brief stays in Fort Rucker, Alabama and Roseville, Minnesota. In 1967 she moved with her family to Dallas, Texas until returning to Minnesota in 1976. Jack and Helen were long time residents on Lake Ida and attended Cormorant Lutheran Church. In 2003, Helen and Jack moved to Arizona, where Helen lived until her death. Helen was a fun loving person and enjoyed dancing, music, playing bridge, and needle arts. Most of all, she loved her family and was a great example of sacrificial love. She will be dearly missed.

Helen’s parents, Hogan and Gusta Erickson, and her husband Jack Ikel, preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory, sons Robert Laura of Dallas, Texas and KevinSandra of Magnolia, Texas; daughter, Vyanne Don Laustrup of Cave Creek, Arizona; grandchildren Avrey Micah Hughes nee Ikel of Mukono, Uganda, Nathan Charissa Ikel of Midland, Texas and Anna Jeff Shaffer nee Laustrup of Cave Creek, Arizona; great grandchildren, Aspen Shaffer, Jack Shaffer, Ella Hughes, Zion Hughes and Eva Ikel; brother, Orville of Bismarck, North Dakota; sister, Hazel of Knoxville, Tennessee; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on May 14, 2016 at Cormorant Lutheran Church, Lake Park, Minnesota.