HELEN JENNESKENS obituary

CHINOOK - Helen Jenneskens, 85, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre after a short but valiant battle with bone marrow cancer.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church.

Helen was born on Jan. 26, 1919, in Germany.

She met Ted Jenneskens in 1941 and they were married on Sept. 28, 1943, in Germany. The family immigrated to the United States and arrived in north-central Montana in February 1949. Together they worked hard on farms and ranches in the Chinook area. Helen also cooked for a number of years for the Chinook Schools. Her reputation as a superb cook blossomed from that point on. In 1957, Helen and Ted bought a farm north of Chinook. Helen worked side by side with Ted for 34 years. In 1991, they sold the farm and moved a short half mile south, to the city of Chinook to enjoy the fruits of their labor and an easier life in their autumn years.

In retirement, they added numerous friends to the many they had. They enjoyed many hours of friendship at the Chinook Senior Citizens Center, where they looked forward to every pinochle party, rummikub game and dinners at the center. Helen's long-established reputation for being a caring and giving person continued well into retirement. She gave unselfishly of her time and energy to numerous community organizations, particularly annual church bazaars and harvest dinners. She was a longtime member of the Altar Society and Lohman Loyalites Club.

She was preceded in death by her lifelong mate and loving husband, Ted, in 2003.

Survivors include her sons, Herb (Pat) Jenneskens of Crofton, Md., and Fred (Diane) Jenneskens of Bigfork; two sisters and one brother in Germany; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many friends and acquaintances.

At Helen's request, memorials may be made to the Chinook Senior Citizens Center, Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church or the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.