Helen E. Bruss

Helen Elaine Hinkley BrussDecember 1, 1925 - December 3, 2009Helen was born Dec. 1, 1925 on her Great grandfather, Cornelius Hinkley's farm near Eyota, MN to Matilda Reed and Neil Francis Hinkley. At a young age, when Helen's mother passed away she went to live with her Great Aunt and Uncle, Addie and Ted Nation of Winona, MN, who later adopted her. Helen attended Winona Sr. High School graduating in 1943. She attended Winona Secretarial Business College with her first job as Secretary to the Mill Supt. at Miller Waste Mills, Winona, MN. Helen met William (Bill) Bruss on a blind date and was married two years later on, June 12, 1946, after Bill returned from WorldWar II. They were married at Central Methodist Church in Winona, MN where they made their home and had two daughters, Barbara Jo and Heidi. In 1956, the family moved to Austin, MN and then to Northfield, MN in 1963. Throughout these years, Helen worked as a Secretary to elementary and high school principals, and then to the Director of Development at Carlton College in Northfield, MN. Her last position before retiring was as Assistant to the Director of Placement at Carlton College. It was difficult to leave the learning and refreshing environment she came to love. Once both retired, Helen and Bill moved to Sun City, AZ for 10 years and then due to Bill's health they moved to Garland, TX to be near their daughter Barb. During retirement, Helen loved to volunteer at church, travel, work on family genealogy, do ceramics, tend to her flower gardens, and be with friends as witnessed by the various groups she belonged to: Century Club, Garden Club, Oakridge DayTimers' Group, & Athens Chapter #82 OES. However, her greatest joy was participating in her grandchildren's activities and enjoying her two daughters. She is survived by daughters Barbara Jo Stauffer (Ladd), of Garland TX, Heidi Bruss, Seattle WA; one granddaughter Brittany Bruss-Arcand, six grandsons, Dustin and Zachary Bruss-Arcand of Seattle; Jeremy, Travis, Peter and Chad Stauffer of Garland; four sisters, Etta Hoy, Florence, KY; Faith Hinkley, Austin,MN; Jessie Babcock, Lewston,MN; Ann Riddle, Sun City, AZ; a brother and wife, Neil & Lillian Hinkley, Winona, MN; brother-in-law, Gale Hill; many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. Helen was preceded in death by parents, great, aunt and uncle Theodore & Addie Nation, dear husband William M. Bruss, brother Robert Hinkley, and sister, Yvonne(Bonnie) Hill; Visitation will be held on Friday, December 11th from 11:00am until 1:00pm at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service Hansen Goodview Chapel. Interment will take place immediately following the visitation at Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona, MN.