Helen Sprouse

Helen Sprouse, 102, Ellendale, ND was born November 6, 1907, to Martin and Alvina Fuher. She was born and raised on a farm near Merricourt in Whitestone Township, ND. Helen attended grade school in Whitestone Township and four years of High School at State Normal and Industrial College, Ellendale, for two years. On May 23, 1941, Helen married Ivan Sprouse in Moorhead, MN and moved to Ellendale. She taught rural school returning to college each summer to work toward her degree. Helen taught for 14 years. In May 1944 she entered the United States Army where she was a Cryptographic Technician for the Pentagon, Washington, DC. She was honorably discharged in February 1945. On December 2, 1951, Helen was baptized into the Ellendale Methodist Church. She taught at Guelph School, worked in the Dickey County Auditor’s Office from 1946 to 1951 as clerk and later deputy. She was appointed County Superintendent of Schools in 1952, was elected and reelected. She completed 30 years of service in education on May 1, 1981 and fully retired in 1993 after 41 years of service. Helen worked on the South Central Mental and Retardation Board for eight years and served on the Alpha Incorporated Board, a non-profit organization interested in promulgating facilities for the less fortunate. Helen was active in her church and community. She was a member of Retired Teachers, Homemakers Club, Hope Circle, lifetime member of the VFW and was an Eastern Star. Ivan passed away September 4, 1992. Helen entered Evergreen Place September 24, 2004 and moved to Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale June 29, 2009, where she resided until her death July 10, 2010. Helen loved visiting and being with people, helping many in her lifetime. She was a wonderful cook, baker and seamstress. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, crafting, crosswords puzzles, and solitaire. She was a busy lady playing a big part in the families of George & Georgia Schaefer, Ellendale, Dawn & Marshall Oster, Aberdeen, Darcy & Trever Speidel, McKenzie & Halle, West Fargo and Michael Speidel, St. Paul, MN. Survivors include two sisters: Lola Dockter, Stevens Point, WI, Marjorie Leet, Healdsburg Senior Living Community, CA, many cousins, nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three sisters: Helen Fuher, Emma Horn, Wilma (Toots) Mock; four brothers: Nels Fuher, Joseph (Butch) Fuher, Phillip Fuher, and Earl Fuher. The funeral service is 10:30am Thursday at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale with Pastor Paul Henschen officiating. Visitation is 2-7pm Wednesday at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial is at Ellendale City Cemetery with Military Honors by Herman-Schlinker Post #137. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.