Helen Boyer Wise, 94, of Redfield, SD, died Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Golden Living Center in Redfield. Her funeral will be Friday, February 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield. Reverend Tim Fugman will officiate. Burial will be in the Ashton Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 4-6:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, SD. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Helen Ernestine Ross was born March 25, 1914, in a farm home near Burdette, SD, to Edwin and Lila (Friemark) Ross. In February 1920, Lila died from the flu; Helen and her brother Howard went to live with Robert and Lela (Ross) Prindle on their farm near Athol. Helen attended country school and graduated from Redfield High School in 1931. Helen married Vernon Keith Boyer on May 31, 1934. They farmed with Robert Prindle and Howard Ross. Keith was in the Army Reserve and was called to active duty in 1941. Before he was shipped overseas, they spent time in Little Rock, AR and Rockford, IL; Keith was discharged in 1946. In January 1947, they moved into a new home in Redfield where Helen lived until August 2007. Keith died in February 1990. Helen married Wayne Wise on December 19, 1991, he died in 2003.

Helen was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ for sixty-five years and the Chicory Chicks Extension Club for twenty-five years.

Helen is survived by her two daughters: Janet Boyer-Steuck of Watertown, SD; and Jeanne; her grandchildren: Mollie Steuck of Sioux Falls, SD; Tony Steuck of Madison, Kristin and Kimberly; two former sons-in-law: Robert Jensen and Cliff Steuck and many friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, two sisters: Hildred Kraemer and Heloise Johnston and her brother Howard Ross.