Dyke Van

Helen Van Dyke (Alex) Helen Ann Van Dyke, of Rosewood on Broadway nursing home of Fargo, ND, formerly of Alexandria, MN, was born the youngest of three children on January 25, 1924 at rural Lindsay, Nebraska to Frank and Anna (Pospisil) Choutka. She attended a rural one room school through the 8th grade. Helen was united in marriage to Harold F. Van Dyke on June 14, 1944 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, rural Lindsay, Nebraska. The couple farmed for 12 years in Nebraska and in 1956, moved to Welch, MN for 1 year. They then purchased a farm at Herman, MN and farmed there for 24 years. Helen was very active in the ladies group at St. Charles Catholic Church in Herman, and was treasurer of the Grand County NFO for a couple of years. Helen always had a large garden and she canned food for the year. When her mother would come to visit in the summer, they would make homemade lye soap. Helen enjoyed sewing, cooking, embroidering, baking and helping her husband with all aspects of farm work. She took pride in a job well done. Harold and Helen retired to Alexandria, MN in 1981. They were avid bowlers and loved to dance. They took many bus trips all over the United States and made many friends. Helen was a member of the Alexandria, MN Eagles Auxiliary, the Western Fraternal Life Association Lodge #28 of Clarkson, NE and member of Christian Mothers at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Alexandria. If the church needed kitchen help or volunteers, Helen was happy to help. After almost 6 years of striving to recover fully from complications of two back-to back major surgeries in February of 2006, Helen gave up her fight and died peacefully at age 87 on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011 at Rosewood on Broadway. Helen is survived by two daughters, Germaine (Geri) and William Harbeke of Fargo, ND and Lorraine (Lori) and Robert Satrom of Alexandria, MN and 3 grandchildren, Mark (Lane) Harbeke of Los Angeles, CA, Dan (Jill) Harbeke of South Jordan, UT and Karen Satrom of Ft. Washington, PA, a sister-in-law, Eileen Choutka and many nieces, nephews and friends. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Alvin (JoAnn) Van Dyke of Fergus Falls, MN & sisters-in-law, Nora Luetkenhaus, Doris Van Dyke and LaVerna Van Dyke from Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her parents, brothers Edward Choutka, Alvin and wife, Doris Choutka. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Alexandria on Tuesday, Nov. 29th at 1:00 pm with Fr.Steve Binsfeld officiating. Entombment followed in the mausoleum at St. Mary?s Cemetery. Pallbearers included Mark Harbeke, Dan Harbeke, Karen Satrom, Duane Choutka, Franklin Choutka and Tim Backman. Honorary pallbearers were her Godchildren: Nick Peine, Kay Wessel, Alana Berlin, David Van Dyke and all her relatives and friends.