Helen O. Enger of Luther Manor in Alpena, passed away on Monday, April 5, 2010, at the age of 96.

 

Helen was born in Alpena on January 17, 1914 to the late Christian and Sophia (Jellum) Bernson and had a long and interesting life.  On July 1, 1939 she married Norman Iver Enger and spent all of her married life in a house built on a farm in Leer.  In the early years water was obtained from a hand pump and had to be carried to the house for washing and cooking.  She was involved in all the activities expected of a farm wife.  She cooked three meals a day, milked cows by hand, made cheese and butter, cleaned chickens and canned vegetables and fruits for the winter.  She once caught a red-tailed hawk that was attempting to catch a chicken.  That was his last attempt at chicken catching.  Her signature meal for family gatherings was Swedish meatballs made using her mother's recipe.  She also made an excellent loaf of bread.  Often an entire loaf was consumed at a meal, particularly if it were freshly baked.

 

Helen knit hundreds of caps and booties for newborns at the Alpena Hospital, and also enjoyed making quilts.  All of her immediate family members have a quilt made by Grandma.  She also enjoyed reading and bird watching,.  For the past 8 years she has lived at Luther Manor where she enjoyed playing skipbo and participating in other activities at "The Manor."

 

Helen was an active member of Leer Lutheran Church for most of her life and attended regularly thanks to Nancy Bishop and the other loving folks at Leer Lutheran Church.

 

Surviving are her sons, Eldon (Judy) of Midland, Donn (Mary) of Armada; daughter, Janet (Richard) Wilson of Linden; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.

 

Preceding her in death in 1997 was her husband of 57 years, Norman Iver Enger; 7 brothers, Finn (Leota), Leif, Erling (Naomi), Harold (Ruth), Arnold (Elsie), Ivan (Ann), Donald (Lorraine); and 4 sisters, Rachel (Bill) Eller, Esther (Emil) Jantz, Lillian (Carl) Anderson, and Marion (Leo) Singer.

 

Visitation for Mrs. Enger will be held at Leer Lutheran Church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Richard Clapp officiating.  Arrangements are being handled by the Bannan Funeral Home.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Leer Lutheran Church, Habitat for Humanity and Alzheimer's Association.

 

Interment:  Leer Lutheran Cemetery