Helen J. Smalley
Helen Smalley 1929-2024
“Helen died.” At one of our family meetings talking about funerals, Mom’s reply to what she wanted for an obituary was, “Just put Helen died in the paper.” There, we are doing her wishes, but did we mention… Born in Monticello, Iowa in 1929 to John and Anna Gerdes. She was an award-winning baton twirler and musician in high school. Married in June of 1952 to Lee Smalley. Two children Dennis (Joyce) and Laura Reisinger (Robb), 3 grandchildren Robin Adams (Martin), Ryan Smalley (Melissa), Randi Strangstalien (Joel), and 8 great grandchildren.
Oh and a bit about her work life, too. She started out teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Iowa where she met Lee. She was a ward clerk, ER Tech, and Medicare Specialist in health care all in Menomonie.
Shifting gears now to what she liked to do. GLASS, glass, glass, she loved making beads at the torch, blowing hot glass, and collecting glass. For as long as we can remember hand-blown glass ornaments were given to us at Christmas. She was really good at sewing and our basement was full of machines and fabric. We made bandanas and kilts together. Not just sewing, but she also was good at embroidery, cross-stitch, and quilting. She had two green thumbs, creating a productive garden of both vegetables and flowers with iris being her favorite. She constantly battled the deer and ground hogs that tried to eat her plants. Don’t forget all of her solar lights in the flower garden, beautiful both day and night. She knew where all the greenhouses and thrift stores were within a hundred miles. Like the street map of the Twin Cities, her recipes were in her head, and there weren’t many leftovers when she cooked. She was a card player, word search expert, and loved watching sports especially Big Ten Wrestling. She retired in 1991 which allowed her to travel with her best friend Lynn Hunt in search of glass and flowers. From Iowa to the west coast to Alaska, they made the rounds “keeping the roads hot and the gas tax up.”
You left us with so many stories and life lessons… all the college kids you selflessly helped by opening up your home for them to live with us, asking them only to pay it forward, wooden spoons, making beads, piano lessons, crock parties, being our “Mother Teresa” and so much more. You are already missed!
A private family burial will be held at a future date. So once again, “Helen died.”