Helen Dwire

Helen Emerald Dwire, age 88, passed away peacefully July 27, 2022, at the Brainerd hospital surrounded by loved ones and her devoted husband, Dick, at her side.

Helen was born May 26, 1934, to Leslie and Edith McAninch, the seventh out of eight children. She grew up in McKinley Township and went to Backus High School. She met the love of her life, Dick, on a blind date and so began their long love story. They were soon married on April 28, 1951, and moved to rural Backus to begin their life together.

Helen was a woman of many talents; not only was she a wife and mother, she was a talented seamstress. Helen made all her own dresses, all her children’s clothes, even snow pants and jackets. She enjoyed baking as well, baking and decorating wedding cakes and many birthday cakes for her children and grandchildren.

Helen always had a large garden and enjoyed growing and canning many fruits and vegetables for their family. She was very active in her community. She was a founding member of the Deerfield Community Ladies Aid and every fall they would put on the Harvest Supper, which fed hundreds of people every year. She was also treasurer for the township and a member of So & Sew’s Homemakers Group.

When you didn’t find Helen at home, she would be out kicking up her heels at a dance with Dick at her side. They loved to dance the waltz and polka. But their favorite by far was the 2-step.

In Helen’s later years, she and Dick found time to travel. They enjoyed Hawaii and two trips to Alaska to do a little fishing. They very much enjoyed being “snow birds” and spent numerous winters in Texas, making memories with old friends.

Towards the end of her life, you would often find Helen sitting quietly in her kitchen chair, enjoying a cup of coffee with Dick and looking out her window, watching the birds at the feeder and traffic on the road. Helen was an incredible woman. A devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. She touched many lives in her 88 years and will be deeply missed.

Helen is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Dick; her children; Neil (Mary) Dwire, Bonnie (Rick) VanBuren, Mike (Lynne) Dwire; 11 grandkids; 25 great grandkids; 5 great-great grandkids; and her sister, Dorothy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Edith; son, Tracey Dean Dwire; and great grandchild, Alaina Ray VanBuren.

Helen’s celebration of life will be held at the Kline Funeral Home in Pine River August 6, from 2pm-4pm.