Helen P. Berntson

Helen Gryth Berntson died peacefully, at her home in LeSueur, MN  on April 2, 2024, at the age of 90 with her daughters by her side.

She was born in Drayton, North Dakota on May 8, 1933 to Edna Johnson Gryth and Iver Gryth. Helen was baptized into the Christian faith at Pembina Lutheran Church. Her formative years were spent in Pembina, ND where she received her elementary and secondary education and was involved in many activities including the church youth groups. After high school graduation, Helen enrolled in the nursing program at Deaconess Lutheran Hospital in Minneapolis and graduated with a RN degree in 1953. She started her nursing career in Portland, Oregon. After a short period of time there, she returned to Pembina to help care for her father Iver who had a stroke. In addition to caring for her father she worked in a small hospital in Emerson, Manitoba, Canada.

It was in this time frame that she met Luther Berntson, a farmer from Adams, North Dakota on a blind date.  Luther and Helen were married January 29, 1960, at Pembina Lutheran Church. They spent their honeymoon skiing in Loveland, Colorado. This was Helen’s first experience of Alpine skiing, and she fell in love with the sport.

 She became a wife of a farmer, and it took some time for this “city girl” to adjust to farm life. However, it wasn’t long for her to be an integral part of the community supporting school activities as well as being an active member of Hitterdal Lutheran Church by teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and helping with other church duties.

She was often called to put her nursing skills to use by tending to the medical needs of the surrounding community members.  Helen had a keen sense of diagnosing health concerns. Neighbors would often ask her for medical advice, which she was hesitant to do and recommended they go see a doctor. After they had departed, she would often reflect on what she thought was going on and 9 times out of 10 she was correct.

After her daughters were in school, she returned to her nursing career, working night shifts at Cavalier Memorial Hospital. She had a love for nursing and was committed to her work. No matter what the weather, she was always at work on time and never missed a shift. She also supported the farm by gardening, mowing, feeding farm workers and helping with harvest.

In the mid-90s Helen and Luther retired from farming and fulfilled a long-held dream of living in the mountains. They chose Steamboat Springs, Colorado where they lived and skied for 25 enjoyable years. They built their dream house, developed new friendships, and entertained many family and friends. Once in Colorado, Helen was active in the church, volunteered at LiftUp (the local food bank) and worked part time with visiting nurses. It was from this employment that she finally decided to retire from nursing for the 3rd time.

In 2017, Helen and Luther decided to give up skiing for health reasons and moved to Wayzata, Minnesota so they would be closer to their daughter, Margo.

Helen’s passion was nursing care and she had the gift of hospitality. She will be remembered by many for her cooking (especially ‘Helen’s buns’). Preparing and serving food was part of how Helen cared for and welcomed people into their home.

She was preceded in death by her husband Luther, her parents Edna and Iver, and her sister Beverly.  She is survived by her daughter Margo (Bruce) Bjork, Kristin (Rolfe) Spiegel, grandchildren Rachel Bjork and Matthew (Taylor) Giljork, great-grandson Iver, siblings Marion Bakken, Janet (Ed) House, Peter (Mary) Gryth, Florence (Gary) Gilbertson and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins, Minnesota on May 18th at 11 a.m. with visitation taking place at 10 a.m. The service will be live streamed.

Burial will be at Hitterdal cemetery near Adams, North Dakota at the later date

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Helen’s memory may be given to Bread for the World, Lutheran Social Services of MN, or LiftUp in Steamboat, CO.

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