Helen Dorothy Hardel

Helen D. Hardel, age 86, formerly of the Rush River area, died on Monday, December 24, 2012 at the Oak Terrace Health Center in Gaylord, MN. Funeral services will be on Thursday, Dec. 27, 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Arlington Township, Sibley County. Rev. William Postel will officiate. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 26, at the Kolden Funeral Home in Le Sueur from 4-8 p.m. Visitation will continue the morning of the funeral at the church one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Helen was born on August 21, 1926 to Gustav and Sarah (Oldenburg) Kruschke in Derrynane Township, LeSueur County. She married Lawrence E. "Butch" Hardel on August 29, 1951 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Blakeley Township. The couple farmed in Kelso Township, Sibley County their entire lives. He died on Dec. 19, 1992. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid and also served as a Sunday School teacher and her church quilting group helping World Relief. She also was an adult 4-H leader and enjoyed watching and feeding birds as well as gardening. She is survived by her children;Gail Hein of New Ulm, MN Sheila (David) Panning of Green Isle, MN Jeffrey (Julie) Hardel of Arlington, MN Leonard Hardel of Le Sueur, MN Dean (Kari) Hardel of Le Sueur, MN Angela Briest of Gaylord, MN Mark (Amy) Hardel of Henderson, MN 13 Grandchildren and 2 Great-Grandchildren Sister, Luella (Orville) Heitkamp of Belle Plaine and Brothers, Henry Kruschke of Green Isle, Harold Kruschke and Donald (Marion) Kruschke of Princeton and Loren (Evie) Kruschke and Willard (Doris) Kruschke of Belle Plaine. She was preceded in death by her husband, son-in-law, Gene Briest, sister, Myrtle Kruschke, brother Gordon Kruschke and a half-sister, Delilah Paulson.