AMUNDSON, Helen M., age 93

Died: Tuesday, December 30th, 2014

Funeral Service: 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire with Pastor Jim Page officiating

Visitation: two hours prior to the service at church

Interment: Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Memorials may be given to:
the Gerald and Helen Amundson Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church,
the Freedom Honor Flight, http://www.freedomhonorflight.org/donate/
or the charity of the donors choosing in lieu of flowers

Helen M. (Vesta) Amundson, age 93, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.

Helen was born to the late Oscar and Martha (Nyseth) Vesta on April 8, 1921. She grew up in rural Timber Creek south of Osseo, WI. She was baptized and confirmed at Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church. After graduating from Whitehall High School, Helen attended Eau Claire Teacher's College (now UW-EC).

For several years she taught in rural Wisconsin schools before joining the WAVES during WWII. She served as a pharmacist's mate while stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Station. One of her greatest joys was to go on the Freedom Honor Flight in 2010 and spend the day in Washington, DC.

On June 20, 1945 she married Gerald "Jerry" Amundson in Pigeon Falls, WI. Helen was blessed with a loving family of four children, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She prayed twice daily for each of them by name.

Helen was known for her love of sewing and made many quilts for Lutheran World Relief as part of her church's quilting group. She was also known for her green thumb and had started a new African Violet just weeks before her passing.

She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She kept Norwegian traditions by being an expert lefse and krumkake baker. She could still read and speak Norwegian. She and Jerry spoke many times about their trip to Norway.

She is survived by her sister, Eleanor Hoff of Osseo, WI; children, Dave (Norma) Amundson of Oronoco, MN, Keith (Theresa Galligan-Amundson) Amundson of Fond du Lac, WI, Karen (Gary) Foster of Eau Claire, and Jeanne (Bob) Andre of Rochester, MN; grandchildren, John (Hwa Kim) Amundson, Michael (Mary) Amundson, Sarah Amundson, Dan (Elly) Foster, Lisa (Don) Bliss, Ben Andre, and Elaina Andre. She was also blessed to love and to enjoy the following great grandchildren, Elizabeth Amundson, Lucy and Emma Foster, Julia Bliss, Joshua and Daniel Amundson. Many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends also survive Helen.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, and brother, Irvin.