Helen Lueck

Helen F. Lueck, age 94, of Redwood Falls, MN, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at River Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center in Redwood Falls. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Evangelical Free Church of Redwood Falls, with burial to follow in Redwood Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be held at 10:00-11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 4 at the church.

The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan and Redwood Falls are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

Helen Faith Lueck, the daughter of Joseph and Lena (Swenson) Johnson, was born September 16, 1930 on the family farm in Highwater Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota. She began her formal education in country school. When Helen was very young, her mother passed away and Joseph moved with his youngest children into Lamberton. There Helen continued her education, graduating from Lamberton High School in 1949. As a teenager, Helen worked for her brother, Bob Johnson, in his "sweet shop" on Lamberton's main street. She was also employed at the local hatchery, candling eggs.

On August 28, 1951, Helen married Donald Lueck at the Nazarene Church in Lamberton. They settled on Second Street in Redwood Falls where they raised their four children. They also cared for Helen's sister, Lillian, who was wheelchair bound. Helen baked hundreds of pies in her kitchen for local restaurants and Tersteeg's grocery store. She also worked briefly at Control Data in Redwood Falls and DelMonte in Sleepy Eye. However, her main focus was, first and foremost, caring for her family. Helen served as Cub Scout Den Mother when the boys were young, switching to Girl Scout Brownie leader when Ann joined the troop. Helen led that Girl Scout troop until they graduated high school. When her children were teenagers, Helen put up with cars, engines (in varying states of repair) and kids all over the backyard!

When the kids were grown and flown, Helen became involved with Christian Women's Club, serving in all the volunteer capacities with the local organization and leading many home Bible studies. She was an active member of the auxiliary at Sunwood Nursing Home, where her sister Lillian then resided. Helen loved to read - particularly biographies and other non-fiction works. She attended Bible college in Ohio. A life-long student of the Bible, Helen's faith in God was evident to all who knew her.

Helen and Don loved to travel took their family on many adventures with their pop-up camper in tow. Their four children learned to water ski and the family spent every summer evening skiing on Lake Redwood with Don piloting and Helen spotting the skiers. In their later years, they spent summers at The Olde Mill on Green Lake, in between trips all over the lover 48 states and into Canada. Helen enjoyed leisurely boating around Green and Ness lakes - with her sun hat firmly tied under her chin.

Having the family together for birthdays and holidays was very important to Helen and she was happiest with her family gathered around her. As the grandchildren grew, Helen taught each of them to play UNO; but she didn't let them win because they were little and cute - they had to earn the victory, fair and square!

She is survived by her sons Paul (Jackie) Lueck, Jim (Julie) Lueck, and Joe (Judy) Lueck; and daughter Ann (Bill) McMahon. Also surviving are her grandchildren Shanna (Nick) Quimby, Lorna (Joe) Plaetz, Betsy (Ryan) Goblirsch, Gwen (Tanya) Lueck-Gould, Ian (Danielle) Lueck, Ben (Denise) Lueck, Suzanne (Kinsey) Anderson, and Quinn (Victoria) Lueck; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Don in March 2022; brothers Sharon, Earl, Ray, Danny, and Bob; sisters Lillian Johnson and Inez Thram; and her great-grandson Gavin Quimby.

Blessed be her memory