Janis A. Helle

Janis Arlene (Pieschke) Helle of Watertown, SD, passed away on Wednesday December 25, 2024, after a brief stay at the Jenkins Living Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. Paul Kuckhahn will officiate.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Sunday from 4-6 p.m.

Burial will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Active Pallbearers will be Jeff Pieschke, Greg Pieschke, Delbert Pieschke, Donald Anderson, Jacob Buri, and Thad Buri

Janis was born on December 13, 1939 on her family’s farm to Albert and Lily Pieschke, the youngest of ten children.

She was a graduate of Watertown High School. She married Raymond Helle on September 6, 1959. They met as children in Sunday school and were married over 61 years when Raymond passed away in 2020.

They raised two children, son Larry and daughter Jody. She had two granddaughters, Savannah and Cassidy and 4 great-grandsons.

She worked for Midcom for 21 years and retired after the company relocated out of the United States.

Janis was a longtime member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she sang in the church choir. She became a member of St. Marin’s Lutheran Church after Bethlehem closed in recent years. She enjoyed baking, gardening and crocheting.

Janis is survived by her son Larry Helle of Watertown, SD, daughter Jody Karasch of Brainerd, MN, granddaughters Savannah (Terry) Polzin of FT. Ripley, MN, and Cassidy (Greg) Denny of St. Michael, MN, great-grandsons Tegan Polzin, Tristan Polzin, Camden Denny, and Declan Denny, and siblings Hazel Hallauer and Darrell Pieschke.

Janis was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, parents Albert and Lily Pieschke, and siblings Harry Pieschke, Henry Pieschke, Donald Pieschke, Richard Pieschke, Earl Pieschke, Grace Lohmiller, and Darlene Adolphsen.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janis A. Helle, please visit our floral store.