Helen L. Kuehl

Helen Louise Kuehl was born on January 6, 1927, to Louis and Sadie Staudacher in Frazee, MN. She grew up with her siblings, James, Harold, and LaVerne, near the Cotton Lake area outside of Rochert, MN. As a young girl, Helen grew up in a one room schoolhouse until her 8th grade year. She attended high school and graduated from Frazee High School in 1944. 

Helen worked a few jobs in the region which included the old Gardner Hotel in Fargo, ND, along with her best friend, Janet Dans (Brakvatne). In the early 1950’s, Helen met Virgil Kuehl, a Glyndon, MN native and World War II Veteran. They married on August 16, 1952. Together, they had several homes in Moorhead, MN. 

Helen was a stay-at-home mother and Virgil worked at Griggs-Cooper and Northwest Beverages in Fargo, ND. They raised three sons and a daughter. They spent a great deal of time with the kids going on Sunday day trips and eventually going camping all over the region including South Dakota, North Dakota, Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Eventually, Helen and Virgil bought a lake cabin on Lake Ida and enjoyed spending time there in the summers. 

With Virgil passing away in 1977, Helen raised the kids as they finished schooling. She began working as a waitress at the Holiday Inn in Moorhead and as a helper at South Junior High lunchroom. Eventually, Helen waitressed for banquets at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND, until she retired. 

Fun facts, Helen did coat checking at the Holiday Inn until she was 89, and was able to attend a 90th birthday celebration with her sister in Los Gatos, CA. Helen, her sister and niece all have the same birthday. Additional fun activities included ziplining, and camel riding. Also, she did hot air ballooning with her daughter, Lisa, in Albuquerque. Helen was able to tour many places in Europe including trips with her son Wayne, sister LaVerne, and niece Michelle. LaVerne was a frequent traveler with Helen. 

Helen enjoyed gardening, cooking, spending time at the lake, and visiting with relatives and friends. She loved to knit and sew. Helen won a trophy for her horseshoe prowess many years back. Recent years saw Helen volunteer her time at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead well into her early 90’s and move from her home in Moorhead to an apartment at Farmstead. She drove a car up until a few years ago. 

Helen is survived by her four children, son, Wayne (Diane) Kuehl of St. Cloud, MN; son, Brian Kuehl (Pam Gronbeck) of Moorhead, MN; daughter, Lisa (Kelly) Myers of Lake Ida, MN and The Villages, FL; and son, Kelly (Dawn) Kuehl of Bloomington, MN; one granddaughter, Erica (Kyle); one grandson, Elliot (Lindsay); and three great-grandchildren, Kendall, Cora, and Isla; as well as nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. 

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Sadie Staudacher; two brothers, James Staudacher and Harold Staudacher; one sister, LaVerne Jury, and her husband Virgil; daughter-in-law, Melissa Wick; and many sisters and brothers-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Sanford Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead.