The funeral service for Helen D. Modderman will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church Pickerel Lake. The Rev. Wendy Anderson will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, as well as one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery.

Helen Modderman passed away on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013. She was 94 years old.

Helen was born on Aug. 23, 1919, in rural Conger to Barney and Louise (Behr) Steele. She attended Conger School District 140 and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1936. She married George Modderman on Oct. 22, 1940, at Concordia Pickerel Lake and the two moved in to Albert Lea to the home where Helen lived the rest of her life.

Helen was a lifelong member of Concordia Lutheran Church Pickerel Lake. She was baptized on Sept. 14, 1919, attended confirmation school in 1932, and was confirmed on March 12, 1932. She was heavily involved in church activities including Women of the Church, Altar Guild, teaching Sunday school, secretary of the church council and member of the Miriam Circle. She worked for the Freeborn County Agricultural Conservation Association, as office manager in the circulation department of the Albert Lea Tribune, as secretary at Gordon’s Electric and Olsen’s Manufacturing, as secretary at St John’s from 1968 to 1974, and sold real estate for Berg Realty. She was also a proud 4-H member.

Helen enjoyed spending time with her family and was known for her spritz cookies and rosettes at Christmas time, and had a love for lemon pie and chocolate candy. Her granddaughters were especially important to her. Her famous words were “What do you know?” and always said, “If I make it, I’ll be 94.” Her cat Purrsnickety was a loving companion. Bird watching, “Wheel of Fortune,” and “Antiques Roadshow” were some of Helen’s favorite things.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Jane (Steve) Haukoos of Albert Lea; granddaughters, Heather Haukoos and fiance Noah Judson of Denver, and Gina Haukoos and her special friend Jason Turnau of Staples; sisters-in-law, Irma (Melvin) Steele of Albert Lea, Delores (Loren) Steele of Conger, and JoAnn (Russell) Modderman of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George Modderman; sisters, Evelyn (Willard) Lillibridge and Doris (Orville) Svendsen; brothers, Melvin Steele and Loren “Bud” Steele; and 11 brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Helen will be missed by all who knew her. She was a very special and unique woman.