Helen M. Larson died on Sunday morning, February 20, 2011, at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson at the age of 89. Memorial service will be held in the Spring. Helen Martha Marie Larson was born on December 27, 1921, in Bellingham, MN, the daughter of Frederick and Hettie (Knoll) Knigge. She met Delbert "Swede" Larson of Dawson. Swede moved to California in 1941, Helen followed a year later, and they were married in Point Loma, CA, on May 19, 1942. They raised 3 children: David, Nanci and Robert in San Diego, CA. Helen was a teacher's aide at Chollas Elementary School in San Diego and was very active in the school's PTA. She cooked at El Camino Pines Lutheran Church Camp and was executive chef for the president of Tejon Ranch in Frazier Park, CA, and in her younger days in Minnesota, she cooked at the Lac Qui Parle County jail. Helen and Swede traveled thought-out the US, spending time in Hawaii and Montana, and several winters in Maryland and California. After they retired, they spent a few years in Arizona before moving back to Dawson to enjoy their "Home Town" living. Helen and Swede enjoyed their many car rides on country roads around Dawson and Madison. Helen liked to do wood crafts, quilting and raising zinnias in her flower gardens. She also loved to bake fruit bars, sour cream and raisin pies, and cookies, especially chocolate chip. Playing Skippo was a favorite pastime for Helen and Swede, "don't leave the card game to get a cookie." She was active in the various groups at Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church in rural Dawson. She and Swede liked to help in the Threshers Kitchen at Heritage Hill at the annual Threshing Show. Helen entered the Johnson Memorial Care Center in February of 2008, and remained there until her death on Sunday morning, February 20, 2011, at the age of 89. Survivors include her children: David (Carol) Larson of Carlsbad, CA, Nanci (Steve) Painter of Dawson, MN, and Robert (Caroline) of Apple Valley, CA; 9 grandchildren: Carolynn, Cindy, Steven, Paul, MiShel, David, Gina, Anders, and Lindsay; 9 great-grandchildren: William, Heather, Nicole, Connor, Sky, Liela, Dylan, Emma and Megan; and 1 great-great-grandchild, Kennedy. Proceeding her death were her parents; husband, Delbert on January 21, 2008; brothers Ervin, Gilbert, and Clarence Knigge; and step-sister, Delores Schulke. The best things in her life were having a loving and caring husband and 3 happy and thoughtful children. She loved attending family events, having friends to the house for coffee and the ever present warm chocolate chip cookies. Blessed be her memory.