Helen Marie Tri, 94, died on Monday, April 26, 2010 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:30 PM on Monday, May 3, 2010 at St. Bernards Catholic Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock, MN.

Visitation will be held 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:00 PM prayer service on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Helen Marie Olson was born November 27, 1915 in Great Falls, MT to Gottfrid and Hilder (Nelson) Olson. The family moved to Minneapolis and Helen attended Hawthorne Elementary, Franklin Middle School, and graduated from North High School in 1932. Helen attended Adolphus Gustavas College in St. Peter, MN and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Teaching. She taught history, English, and speech in Ruthton, MN for a year before moving to Humboldt, MN where she taught several subjects at the school there. Helen was baptized into the Catholic Faith in 1939 and later on June 5th, she was united in marriage to Quintin Milroy Tri at St. Annes Catholic Church, St. Vincent, MN. Helen took a number of years off from teaching to raise her family. In 1954 her husband Quintin died and in 1956 Helen attended Moorhead State University to further her education. In 1958 Helen went back to teaching in Humboldt until 1965, when she moved to Red Lake Falls, MN. From 1965, until her retirement in 1980 Helen served as Librarian at the Red Lake Falls school. In 1990, she moved to Thief River Falls, where she has since resided.

Throughout her life Helen has been active in many groups, organizations, and the communities she has lived in. She was president of the Ladies Aid in St. Vincent for ten years, the American Cancer Society and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council while in Red Lake Falls. She also served as secretary for Senior Citizens in Red Lake Falls for a number of years.

Throughout her life Helen enjoyed tending to her large vegetable garden. She spent a lot of time crocheting, sewing and doing crosswords. Helen was a voracious reader who was a supporter of higher education. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Helen is survived by her daughter Marie (Allen) Finney, Thief River Falls, MN; son, Peter Tri, Thief River Falls, MN; 9 grandchildren, Pam (David) Rochlin, Edina, MN, Kristi (John) Brandt, Fargo, ND, Patti (Dan) Ristvedt, Plymouth, MN, Bryan (Dana) Tri, Springhill, TN; Matt Tri, Bemidji, MN, Michelle (Dave) Lawrence, Detroit Lakes, Bob and Dave Brager, New Brighton, MN, and Andrew Tri, St. Cloud, MN; 9 great-grandchildren, Adam, Emma, and Noah Rochlin, Jacob and Alex Brandt, DJ and Katie Ristvedt, Tyler and Justine Lawrence; 1 great-great-grandchild Riley; daughter-in-law Kathy Tri, Park Rapids, MN; and son-in-law Don Brager, New Brighton, MN.

She is preceded in death by her husband Quintin; daughter Kathryn; and two sons Anthony and James.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

MUSIC: Precious Lord Take My Hand, Be Not Afraid, How Great Thou Art, Here I Am Lord, Amazing Grace, On Eagles Wings
CASKETBEARERS: Pam and David Rochlin, Patti and Dan Ristvedt, and Kristi and John Brandt
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Andrew Tri, Matt Tri, Bryan Tri, Bob Brager, David Brager, Michelle Lawrence