Helen Lygtebo

Helen Lygtebo, age 95, formerly of Oldham, SD, passed away, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Arlington. Pastor Seth Moen will be officiating.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 1:00 P. M. at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Arlington.

Interment will be in the Oldham Lutheran Cemetery in Oldham, SD.

Helen was born on July 10, 1929, the youngest child of Albert and Alma (Hovden) Lygtebo. She was baptized and confirmed in Oldham Lutheran Church, and hardly ever missed church for any reason.

She attended both the country schools, that were later moved onto the family farm 5 miles east of Oldham. She then attended high school in Oldham, graduating in 1947.

She worked at Melvin’s Store, a grocery and general store in Oldham, for many years. While working there, she stayed with Magness and Bertha Fuglsby in a room she rented.

She was a caretaker for her sister Inez, who passed away from cancer at the age of 53.  Inez and Helen had always been very close and even dressed alike much of the time.

She then took loving care of her dad, Albert, who died in 1979. and her mother, Alma, who died in 1981. She had always wanted to be a nurse. And even without formal training, became one for her family.

As Bud traveled many miles every day with his well repair business, she took care of things at home for her brother.

Bud and Helen were founding members of Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Arlington.

After he passed away in 2003, she would drive to Madison every day to check on her sister, Julia. Helen moved to Julia’s house in Madison, after Julia’s passing in 2013.

She entered Bethel Lutheran Home in 2016. Helen was the last living Lygtebo in the United States.

Helen was welcomed into heaven by her Savior, and all those who have gone before.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Alma, siblings, Julia Pederson, Inez and Alfred Lygtebo, along with her brother -in-law Pete Pederson, and other relatives and cousins.

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