Helen Marie Gifford (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Helen Marie Gifford, daughter of Hans and Sena Marie Yndastad Monson, was born April 17, 1923, in Alexander, North Dakota. She departed this life Friday, November 20, 2015, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-two years, seven months, and three days.
On January 4, 1943, she was united in marriage to William Henry Gifford, and to this union one daughter and three sons were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William, in 1978; a grandson, William Howard Gifford, Jr.; six brothers, her twin Hansel, Harvey, Chet, Bill, Roy, and Ray; and two sisters, Olive and Wilma.
Helen is survived by a daughter, Connie Erickson, of Russ, Missouri; three sons, William Howard Gifford, and his wife, Donna, of Neotsu, Oregon, Robert Gifford, of Russ, Missouri, and Rodney Gifford, and his wife, Cindy, of Lebanon, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Darron Gifford, Melissa Erickson, TinaMarie Starkey and Henry, Chris Gifford and Melissa, Mindy Sanders and Wil, Jannell Drummond and Brent, and Cody Gifford and his fiancée, Jennifer; eleven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a brother, John Monson, and his wife, Carol, of Alexander, North Dakota; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born, along with her twin, Hansel, into a family that totaled ten children with three sets of twins. She was raised in Alexander, North Dakota, and received her education there. She later attended nursing school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. After she and William were married, they made their home in the San Diego, California area, where Helen worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital for thirty years. She also was a devoted homemaker to her husband and a loving mother to her children. For the last few years, she had made her home near Lebanon, Missouri.
Helen had attended the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Missouri.
She enjoyed playing Bridge, reading, traveling the world, trying her luck at the slot machines, and cooking. She looked forward to going back to North Dakota each year to visit her family, as long as she was able. Her family was very important to her and she loved having her family around her.
Helen was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them during her ninety-two years.
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