Helene Carrie (Bailey) Spelhaug

Helene Carrie Spelhaug, a longtime Chatfield, MN resident died November 28, 2014 surrounded by family. She was 93. Helene Bailey was born Dec. 28, 1920, in rural Chatfield, MN to William and Bertha Bailey. She attended rural grade school and went on to graduate from Chatfield High School in 1939. Helene’s strong work ethic, her value of a solid education, and her deep appreciation for family and friends were rooted in her upbringing on the family farm during the Depression.

Helene attended Winona Teachers College and earned her teaching degree in 1942. She began her teaching career spending three years in rural schools in the Chatfield area prior to her two years spent at Lanesboro Elementary School. On October 11, 1948, Helene married Dwaine Spelhaug at Chatfield United Methodist Church. The couple started their life together living in several locations in Minnesota and North Dakota while Dwaine was a Bank Examiner with the FDIC. The growing family lived in Crookston, Litchfield, and St. Paul, MN and in Fargo, ND before returning in 1959 to Chatfield where Dwaine was employed at Root River State Bank. Helene lived in Chatfield until 2012 when she moved to Decorah, IA and resided at Barthell Eastern Star Home until her passing.

Helene was an active member of the Chatfield community, including serving on the American Legion Auxiliary and Community Chest. She particularly enjoyed sharing her love of nature with the children she led in Boy and Girl Scout Troops and Camp Fire Girls. A longtime faithful member of the Chatfield Lutheran Church, she was a Church Council and Mary Deborah Circle member and a Sunday school teacher. While she enjoyed all of her church activities, she especially looked forward to her weekly quilting group.

Helene’s lifelong passion was spending time in the great outdoors. She enjoyed nothing more than tending to her yard and wild flower gardens or taking her ritual morning walk. She also loved reading and generously shared this passion with her children, always taking the time to read ‘just one more chapter.’

Helene was dearly loved by her family. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ann (Vince) Arnold of Dodge Center; Jean (David) Haugo of Decorah, Iowa; Robert (Nicole) of Rochester; James (Julie) of Bettendorf, Iowa; Patrice (Bryan) Stanek of Irvine, Calif.; Sue (Rick) Poinsett of San Diego, Calif.; her grandchildren Alan (Lisa) Arnold, Michael Arnold (Laura Severson); Andrew (Dayra) Haugo, Adam (Arielle) Haugo, Alison (Charlie) Haugo-Crooks, Andrea (Thomas Wyse) Haugo, Ashley Haugo; Carling, Kendall, and Alexandra Spelhaug; Lexi, Ryan, Ellie and Carli Spelhaug; Tyler and Lauren Stanek; Claire Helene and Ava Poinsett; and her great-grandchildren Katie Danhof, Stella and Davis Arnold, Elena and Clara Haugo and Norah Crooks.

Helene was preceded in death by her husband; her parents William and Bertha (Bernard) Bailey; two brothers, Maurice and Harold Bailey; one son Dr. Donald Spelhaug and one granddaughter Jessica Arnold.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Chatfield Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 21, at 1 p.m., with the Pastor Mark Docken officiating. Visitation is at the church 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be at at Chatfield Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Chatfield Lutheran Church, Chatfield Public Library or Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah, IA.

Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield is assisting the family with arrangements.  To share an condolance with the family please visit rileyfuneralhomes.com 507-867-4310

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FLORISTS:

PLEASE DELIVER TO CHATFIELD LUTHERAN CHURCH (304 Fillmore Street Southeast, Chatfield, MN 55923) on SUNDAY FROM 11:30 - NOON