Helen Gorder, 99, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Estelline, SD.  A visitation with family will be held one hour prior, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the church. Trinity Lutheran Church will livestream Helen's Funeral Service on their Facebook page.

Helen Marie Jongeling was born on November 23, 1925, to Herman and Hattie (Kleinheksel) Jongeling near Castlewood, SD.  Helen grew up on a farm east of Castlewood with her three brothers and one sister.  She attended country school in rural Castlewood and Hamlin Reformed Church.  After attending school, she worked at Skaggs and Gambles in Watertown.  She met her husband Donald, and they were married in Watertown on November 29, 1946.  Helen was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline and attended church there with Donald and family.  Helen and Donald had three children—Dan, Donna, and Dwayne.  She worked alongside Donald on the farm northeast of Estelline.  They exchanged help with Donald's three brothers--Arnold, Richard, and Martin.  Being so close and working together, the brothers made it easy to help each other back and forth on their farms.  Donald and Helen moved to Watertown in 1986 and passed the farm to their son.  The farm has been in the family for over 130 years.  Helen and Donald enjoyed traveling with their 5th wheel camper to Texas, Florida, and Arizona for the winter months.  After Donald passed in 1993, she continued to take bus trips all over the country.  Helen also enjoyed reading, puzzles, and card playing.  She was active at the Watertown Recreation Center with water aerobics and attended Cornerstone Methodist Church.  Her last years were spent at 200 Maple Place and Stoney Brooke Assisted Living in Watertown, and Estelline Nursing and Care Center.  Helen is survived by her children, Dan Gorder (Lynn), Donna Stroschein (Randy),  and Dwayne Gorder (Lynette); six grandchildren, Dawn Van Nieuwenhuyzen (David), Dena Den Herder (Ross), Holly Martinmaas (Jerry), Debra Tanner (Jason), Rebecca Steilen (John), and Andrew Gorder (Michelle), three step-grandchildren John Molstad (Elizabeth), Ann Molstad (Tyler Dick), and Jill Ruhd (Tyler), and 20 great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; brothers George, Donald, and Richard and one sister Marion Noeldner; a grandson, Ryan Stroschein, and a daughter-in-law, Sherry Gorder.