In Loving Memory of 
Helen Wiebe
(nee Duerksen)
age 90
Lovingly remembered by her children 
Robert (Teresa), Donna (John), Richard (Margaret), 
and Douglas (Nancy) as well as their families.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Henry.

Died
December 25, 2024
Bayside Personal Care Home
Killarney, Manitoba

Memorial Service
Friday, January 3, 2025
Lakeview Community Church
Killarney, Manitoba
2:00 p.m.

Please click here to register/view livestream.

Private Interment - Killarney Cemetery

Donations in memory of Helen may be made to 
Turtle Mountain Bible Camp Box 1198 
Boissevain, Manitoba R0K 0E0.

Helen Wiebe was born on Feb. 21, 1934, to Henry and Mary Duerksen in the Bannerman area and was the 6th child in a family of 8 children.
It wasn’t until the year 1979, when she went to get a birth certificate, that she wasn’t sure whether it was Feb. 20 or Feb. 21.  The birth certificate said Feb. 20.  Her dad was gone, and her mother was not able to communicate anything about her birth.   Since she had always thought it was the 21, she stuck with it. 

Helen is survived by:  son Robert (Teresa);  Lin (Dave), children Kelsey, Ian;  Phil (Melissa), children Ella, Evan, Peter;  Sydney (Matt);   Christopher (Lily);  daughter Donna (John);  Ben (Kloe), children Jude;  Josh (Rebecca), children Oliver, George;  son Rick (Margaret);  Kaylee (Jason), children Maddie, Jack;  Jeff (Andrea), children Theo, Caleb;   son Doug (Nancy);  Alison (Ethan);  Nick, (Jenn);  Levi (Kelsey);  Mikey (Rianna);  Meaghan;  Sarah.  She is survived by 2 sisters:  Kay Reimer of Killarney and Mary Penner (Ed) of Gladstone MB., one brother Dave Duerksen of Abbotsford B.C. and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was predeceased by 3 great grandsons, Nathaniel Henry, (8 months), Joshua, and Alyosha.  She was predeceased by her husband Henry in 2015.  She was also predeceased by 4 of her brothers.

Helen started grade school in Holmfield at the tender age of 4.  Her older sister, Kay, did not want to start Grade 1 but said that if Helen would go along with her, she would go also.  So, Kay, age 6 and Helen, age 4 started school together.  Mom was quite young to be walking all the way to school.  Her brother Cornie felt sorry for her and often carried her.

In later school years, mom would drive the buggy to school by steering the reins of the horse they called ‘King’.  Aunt Mary remembers her as a good driver.  Helen felt a responsibility for the horse and would take part of her lunch hour to spend time with the horse and feed him.

Mom became a Christian at Gimli Bible camp as a young girl.  She dedicated her life to love and serve the Lord.  Daily Bible reading, prayer and church attendance were very important in her life.  She taught Sunday School, was a Pioneer Girls leader, and for several years served as a deacon couple with dad at their church.

Holmfield School only went as high as grade 11.  She wanted to finish High School, so she made the move to Winkler in 1951 to complete her grade 12.  After graduation, she spent the summer in a school teacher training program and, that fall, taught in a 1 room schoolhouse in Graham MB, in the Cartwright/Mather area.  She returned to Winnipeg in 1953 to further her education.  She completed a full year of Normal School, graduated in 1954, and went on to teach in Kane MB. for 1 year.  She boarded with a local family as was the custom for young female teachers.

Mom’s teaching career came to an end with her marriage to Henry Wiebe on July 9, 1955.  They had 60 years of marriage together living mostly in the Holmfield area.  They raised cows, pigs, and ran a mixed grain operation.  On this farm they also raised their 4 children, teaching them to work hard and love the Lord.

Mom had a huge vegetable garden and often a separate flower garden.  She requested a little corner of a field to be left unplanted so that she could have a huge crop of potatoes and watermelon.  Dad always left her a small patch although, if you had been tasked with keeping it clean, it seemed huge.

In 1983 they moved to Killarney amidst some turmoil and angst.  Dad said it was time, but mom said not for her.  She had a difficult time with the move but eventually started ‘town gardening’.  Gardening took her back to her childhood and days on the farm and she felt better.  She also got a job working at Sawatsky’s Jewellery.  She loved this job, being amongst all the pretty things every day.  The Sawatsky family was very good to her as was the Garth Nichol family who purchased the business later on.  She retired in 1998.

Henry and Helen enjoyed many retirement years on Young St. in Killarney:  remaining active in their church, staying in touch with children and grandchildren, doing woodworking, sewing and knitting, taking pleasure in their yard and enjoying a cup of coffee on the back deck.

The biggest change in Mom’s life happened with the loss of our dad.  Henry died in 2015 and mom lost the will to go on without him.  She spent several years living in the Royal Manor and eventually moved to Bayside.  She loved Bayside!  No cleaning, no laundry and best of all “No Cooking!”  She loved having her spot at the table and meals served to her.  She said it made her feel like a queen.

Mom suffered a stroke in October of 2023.  She slowly deteriorated, walking less, eating less and sleeping more.

Mom died peacefully on Christmas Day.  Aunt Kay recited Psalm 23 to her and said goodbye in the German language as mom breathed her last breath.  It was peaceful and calm.   She has wanted to be with dad since 2015.  She got this special gift on Christmas Day.

You no longer have to be “lonely for Henry.”

Miss you and love you!