Service: Helen’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Lands Lutheran Church, Hudson, SD.
Helen Ann (Sandvig) Bergren, age 91, died Saturday June 6, 2026 at Sanford Canton-Inwood Hospital.
Helen was born on March 17, 1935 on the family farm in rural Hudson, SD. She was the oldest of 5 children of L.E. & Bertha Sandvig. Helen graduated from Augustana Academy in Canton, SD. She completed nursing training at Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. She met Bob Bergren in Minneapolis.
She married Bob on August 18, 1957 in a double wedding with her sister Bonnie and Jerome Erickson. Bob and Helen were proud parents of four sons, Scott, Guy, Todd and Lee.
Bob and Helen moved often when Bob worked for IBM (IBM meant I Been Moved!), living in Duluth, MN, Sioux City, IA, Poughkeepsie, NY, and Boulder, CO in the first 10 years of marriage. Helen worked in nursing during these years as a physician’s nurse and later as Director of Nursing for nursing homes in Longmont and Denver, CO. While in Colorado, Helen had a wallpaper business, working with friends, daughter-in- law Fran, and sister Louise Kinnander.
After Bob retired from IBM, they lived in Guthrie, OK, Brainerd, MN, and finally returned to South Dakota.
Helen and Bob were a talented remodeling team, remodeling two of their homes, including the Norway Center General Store. Helen had the design ideas and Bob built her ideas.
Helen was a talented singer, singing as a soloist, in a touring choir in nursing training, in church choirs as well as community choruses for years. She also sang in quartets with friends as well as duets with Bob.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bob, parents, sister Bonnie, brother Edward, and son Todd. She is survived by her sons Scott (Kathy), Guy (Fran), and Lee (Joan); daughter-in-law Michelle; sister Louise; brother Alan; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of extended relatives and friends.
Helen’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Lands Lutheran Church, Hudson, SD.
I miss you already, friend Helen! Thank you for walking beside me, just like Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, and being my friend. You were so “sassy” , funny, independent and knowledgeable. I will treasure the wisdom and guidance you provided during our talks. I know you are already holding your husband and son close again and that provides my heart some solace. And I’m listening closely so I can hear you singing with the angels. Until we meet again, dear Helen…
I’m so sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed visiting with Helen when I worked at HH as a med aide. She was always kind to me. God Bless your family. Tina ( Med Aide at Hiawatha)
Guy, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother passing away … Scott and I are sending our condolences to you and your families …(( Hugs))
Scott and Lynn Vaksdal
We are so sorry to learn of Helen’s passing! What a wonderful lady!! God bless and comfort you all with those precious memories of her!!