Helen Rediske

HOUSTON, MN - Helen H. Rediske, 90, of Houston and Hokah, MN died peacefully on October 1, 2019, at Valley View Healthcare and Rehab Center in Houston.
Helen Hazel (Hockenbery) Rediske was born on September 9, 1929, to Ellman and Deloris (Romlow) Hockenbery. Helen attended La Crosse Valley Public School through 8th grade in Grant, near Warrens, WI. She attended Lincoln High School for one year and then Logan High School, graduating in 1947.
Helen worked at La Crosse Telephone Company until she met the love of her life (the milkman), Hugh Rediske, whom she married on June 28, 1947. They were married 63 years when Hugh passed away on April 22, 2010. Helen and Hugh lived in Onalaska, WI while Hugh worked at Allis Chalmers. In 1953, they traded their house in town for the farm house on German Ridge of rural Hokah, MN. Helen and Hugh raised three sons on the farm. Helen worked at La Crosse Garment Company for five years, Rush Products in Rushford, MN, for 10 years, and Old Hickory Orchard in La Crescent, MN for 23 years, packing apples.
Helen and Hugh spent 25 winters as "snowbirds", mostly at Apache Junction, AZ. They square danced and polka danced and loved playing cards and visiting with people. Helen especially loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.
Helen was admitted to Valley View Healthcare and Rehab in May of 2017, after falling and breaking her hip. She will be remembered there for her feisty spirit, her sense of humor, and fun willingness to try anything. She always got along well with the staff and residents, playing Bingo and cards, was an avid Minnesota Twins fan, as well as wrinkling her nose at her vegetables and calling them "poison".
Helen is survived by two sons: Myron (Joyce) Rediske of Decorah, IA, and Michael (Mary) Rediske of Hokah; a daughter-in-law, Brenda Rediske of Sparta, WI; eleven grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren; a brother, Gordon Hockenbery and a sister-in-law, Nancy Hockenbery, both of Onalaska, WI. She is also survived by a brother-in-law: Billy Todd of Garden City, MI; sisters-in-law: Caroline Rediske of Tomah, WI, and a sister-in-law Ruth (Rediske) Sommerfield of Elroy, WI; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her cat, Bubbles.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hugh in 2010; son, Vernon, in 2011; brother, Harland and his first wife, Gladys; sister: Rhyta and her husband, John Braggins; sister-in-law, Beverly Hockenbery; and other relatives: Frank and Deloris (Rediske) Noe, Robert and Beverly Rediske, Shirley (Rediske) Todd, Herbert Rediske, Leon Sommerfield and a niece, Karen (Hockenbery) Eggan.
There will be a funeral service for Helen on Friday, October 18, 2019, at the Hokah Community Church in Hokah, MN at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, at the church, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow the service at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hokah.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Valley View Healthcare and Rehab Center and to Dr. Franta, for all of the excellent care and compassion shown to Helen during her stay at the home.
The family prefers memorials directed to the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hokah, MN.
Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston is assisting the family with arrangements.