Connie J. Helle

Connie J Helle

Connie J (Bender) Helle passed away with her daughters at her side on July 15, 2022, in Devils Lake, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Connie was born on June 28, 1953, in Rapid City, SD, to Lawrence and Adahnell “Joni” Bender. Her father was in the Corp of Engineers and she spent her childhood in South Dakota, Florida, and the island of Okinawa, Japan. She moved to Edinburg, ND, for her senior year, graduating in 1971. Connie then attended NDSU and Aaker’s Business College.

On June 15^th, 1973, Connie married Edval Helle Jr. They built a home in Edmore and had a son, Greg, and two daughters, Tracy and Ashley. Connie worked at the Nekoma missile site, then at the Johnson Store and the Edmore Post Office for many years. She was a volunteer EMT with the Edmore Ambulance Service. After moving to Grafton in 2010, Connie worked with a special group of gals at Walsh County Social Services, enjoying much fun together outside of office hours. She retired in July 2021 and moved to Devils Lake.

Connie enjoyed trips with friends and family to Las Vegas, Iowa, South Dakota, Lake Havasu, San Antonio and Disney World. She never turned down a Bingo or casino invite and loved reading. Connie’s true passion was her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She loved attending their events and was their biggest fan. In her grandchildren, Connie cultivated a future generation of rummy card sharks. Her family will cherish those card games, and many other memories made over the past few months.

Connie is survived by her daughters, Tracy (Remington) Ottum and Ashley (Dustin) Samuelson; grandchildren Carter, Laekin, Lyric, Rylan, Gregor, and Raya; brother Mike (Debbie) Bender; brothers-in-law Sammy Johnson and Randy (Kristi) Helle; sister-in-law Diane (Jerry) Koltes; numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of special friends, who made her smile to the very end.

Connie was led through heaven’s gate by her son, Greg, who took a piece of her to heaven twelve years ago. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters Judy (Kenneth) Thomasson and Debbi Johnson.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake. A burial will take place at Mountain Cemetery at a later date.