Helen Ford

Helen Jean Ford was born October 25, 1925 in Montevideo, Minnesota, the daughter of Walter and Odessa Beaty. She passed away on November 1, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota at the age of 85 years. Helen grew up in rural Montevideo and attended school in Boyd, graduating with the class of 1943. She continued her education at Windom Teachers College in Montevideo and went on to teach country school near Boyd. In 1946 she was united in marriage to Donald Lee Ford at the First Baptist Parsonage in Montevideo by Reverend J. A. Tollefson. The young couple taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church. Their union was blessed with two daughters. Don and Helen made their home in Montevideo and raised their family. Helen was a loving wife and mother, caring for her family as a homemaker.In later years she was employed with the Monte Dry Cleaners and worked in the catalog department for J.C. Penny's, Sears, and Montgomery Ward.She was an avid Twins fan who enjoyed cross stitching, knitting, and doing crossword and jig saw puzzles. Her love of music led her to play the organ and piano both for relaxation and helping out at church. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Foster Grandparents program volunteering at Ramsey Elementary School.Helen is survived by her daughters: Marilyn (Gary) Christiansen of Alexandria; Darlene (Greg) Morton of Prior Lake; grandchildren: Jason (Jenel) Christiansen, Tammy (Steve) Placzek, Mitchell Morton, Tracie Morton; great grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew, Anja, Josie, Kyle, Benjamin, and Sydney; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Don in 1998; and all of her siblings: Lucille Laubach, Ruth Moseng, Iona Nordaune, Wallace Beaty, and Willard Beaty.