Helen Granrud

Helen Granrud of Montevideo died on Monday, July 30, 2018 at Home Front First in Montevideo at the age of 94.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 2:00PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with Pastor Donald S. McKee  officiating.  Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be held from 12:30 to 2:00 PM at the church on the day of the service.

Helen Anderson Granrud was born October 22, 1923 to Coldevin and Rena Anderson of Watson, Minnesota. Helen’s father, Coldevin Anderson came from Bo Jorland, Norway in 1910.  Her mother, Rena Hagen Anderson, was the second daughter of Helga Kivley and Ole Hagen of Lac Qui Parle County. Grandparents, Ole Gundersen Kivley and Ragnhild Gunbjornsdatter Pladsen were both from Norway.

She was baptized and confirmed at Watson Lutheran Church. She attended grade school in Watson, and graduated from Montevideo High School. Following high school she attended the Santa Ana, CA Junior College.   Helen  worked at the Draft Board in California for a short time. She returned to Watson and worked at the Watson Post Office, Bank Exchange, and the Watson Voice Weekly Newspaper.  In March of 1943, she went to work for N.W. Bell Telephone Company in Montevideo. She worked as an operator and then was transferred to the Business Office. She worked for 39 years, retiring in March 1982.

Helen was united in marriage to Carl Granrud on June 20, 1948 in Watson, by the late Rev. O.J. Skrukrud.  They enjoyed a happy, and loving marriage of 65 years . Helen and Carl were gracious hosts to family and friends, old and new acquaintances. The meals at their table were generous, as were the stories and laughter.  The coffee pot was always on. They openly shared their commitment to their faith, being Godparents to 27 children over the years.

Helen was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where she served on various boards. She was very active in the Montevideo community as a volunteer for the Community Concert Association, Luther Haven Nursing Home, Chippewa County Historical Society, Senior Citizen Community Center and  Red Cross Bloodmobile.  She  enjoyed biking, reading and playing bridge.  Helen also loved to travel, especially to Norway.

Helen is survived by her foster daughter, Djuna (Dorothy) Odegard, of Berkeley, CA; plus many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family that loved and cared for her.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Carl; two brothers: Kenneth Anderson and Arnold Enge; two sisters: Rudella Bush (Donald) and Alice Lipert; and her foster daughter: Robin Rae (Stevens) Bofferding.