Helen was born on March 22, 1918, on her mother’s homestead near Charlson, ND. Her parents, Bernt and Bertha (Gravlien) Anderson, were Norwegian immigrants with neighboring homesteads. Helen started school at the age of four and attended the Hawkeye School; she spent two years of high school in Sanish and two years of high school in Watford City. She graduated from Watford City High School in 1935 and went to business college in Fargo, graduating in 1938. Helen held clerical jobs in Bismarck, Billings, and Seattle. It was in Seattle where she met Sidney Muirhead when he returned from World War II in 1945. Helen and Sidney married on March 29, 1946 in Seattle. Their three children, Keith, Donald and Evelyn, were born in Seattle. In March of 1952 the family moved to North Dakota because Sidney loved the wide-open prairies of the Midwest.
Helen was active in the Keene community serving as a bookkeeper for the Independent Oil Company and as a postal clerk in the Keene Post Office, where Sidney was the postmaster. She served as a 4-H leader, taught Sunday School and Bible School at Clear Creek Lutheran Church, and served in various roles in the church and the ladies aid. She especially enjoyed the years she was active in the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as a Grand Representative to the State of Colorado.
After Sidney’s death in 1985, Helen continued to live on the farm near Keene until June 2009, when she moved to the Horizon Assisted Living in Watford City. She enjoyed spending time with people, quilting and sewing projects for the Horizon’s annual bazaar. She especially enjoyed spending time putting together jigsaw puzzles with friends and tending the flowers on her patio. In December, 2017 she moved into the Good Shepherd Home.
Helen was known and admired for her cheerful, positive attitude about life. She was a life-long Lutheran who found solace in her faith. People often described Helen as their role model because she lived her life fully and cheerfully. Helen dearly loved her family and she was especially close to her niece and nephew, Myra and Ron Anderson, who always made themselves available to help her through both the good times and the sad. She loved her church and believed in giving back to her community. She never met a stranger.
Helen Muirhead passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 19, at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City, ND.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Bernt and Bertha Anderson, step-mother Clara Anderson, husband Sidney Muirhead, sons Keith Muirhead and Donald Muirhead, brothers Alfred and John (Olga) Anderson, and sisters Marian Vigen and Lena Anderson. She is survived by her daughter Evelyn Wilson of Huntsville, AL, and grandchildren Keith (DesiRae) Muirhead of Sioux Falls, SD, Kimberly (Dustin) Laber of Fargo, ND, Sarah (Greg) Partridge of Atlanta, GA, Ryan Wilson of Huntsville, AL, and Jennifer Fulfer (Andy) of Odessa, TX, and great-grandchildren Bailey and Blake Laber, Hayden and Gavin Muirhead, and beloved nieces and nephews Ron and Myra Anderson, Rene Diebold, Randy and Tina Anderson, John and Julie Muirhead, and Jim and Irene Muirhead, and innumerable friends.

Memorial Contribution