Helen Elizabeth (Anderson) Allison

Born on January 16, 1942 to Henry and Norma Anderson at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. She was the youngest sister of Carmen, Bob, Jim and Mary, and grew up near Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. She told many stories of her childhood walking secret trails near the Falls and walking on the slimy rocks above the waterfall, dressing up her kitties in doll clothes, climbing trees and playing with some of her best friends. As a young girl, she also took accordion and piano lessons. She really enjoyed playing the piano for and with her husband, children and grandchildren. It always brought her so much joy and laughter. After graduation from Minnehaha Academy, Helen worked at Twin City Federal. In 1961 she married her high school sweetheart, Jim Allison, and they moved to Hastings, Minnesota where they started their family and joined Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Helen became active in many of the church’s women’s and children’s ministries, both of which were a lifelong passion of hers. As children were added to her own family Helen became more involved in Sunday school and Vacation Bible School ministries where she used her many creative and artistic talents to share her deep love of Christ. She was also involved in Girl Scouts, Junior Great Books and many other of her children’s activities. Though she was soft spoken, Helen had great love for others, a trait which served her well for many decades of ministry as a pastor’s wife in Minnesota congregations in Lakeville, Inver Grove Heights, Dunnell, Meriden, Albert Lea, McGregor, and Postville in Iowa. She kept her love of women’s ministry and children’s ministry as well as helping to visit and encourage the sick or sad any time she was needed. She often planned and spoke at church conferences and banquets and did a stellar job making sure every detail was perfect. Helen made people feel comfortable as they were, and they felt cared about when they were around her. Helen was the best mom to her 8 children whom she loved dearly. Julie, Hamlin, Jeanie, Hale, Jodi, Hans, Harlan and Jessica were her pride and joy and she was their biggest fan. No matter what event it was, she was in or near the front row, camera in hand, to root them on. She was the kind of mother you called in the middle of the night if your own child was sick, or if you had a need, and she would calmly give the perfect advice, or soothing words in her soft sweet voice, or she would hop in the car and be on the way to help. She gave her all to her family, and was so glad to add in-law children or grandchildren and most recently, great-grandchildren into her flock. To many of her grandchildren, she was a second mother. She always jumped at the chance to spend time with them whether she was babysitting or attending a school, sporting or social event. Helen would have been happy if they all lived on her same block. Distance away was hard for her but her love and prayers for her family and friends never wavered. It was an encouragement just to stand next to her because she radiated goodness and peacefulness. Her Christian faith was real and deep to her core. Helen never really retired because she never stopped ministering and helping others. Her later years were spent in Rochester, Minnesota, eventually attracting half of her children to move nearby. She enjoyed time on road trips with her family to many U.S. states and within Minnesota and traveled coast to coast with several of her children and grandchildren. She made it her mission to get her grandchildren to church camp each year up in northern Minnesota, and volunteered to help there herself with cooking and crafts. Helen loved music and she loved the Church. She loved birthday parties and dinners and holidays, and had such a generous spirit. She loved pretty flowers and had many of her own gardens. Several of her gardens were so lush and beautiful that they attracted onlookers who would stop off and take photos. The Lord took Helen home with Him on August 15, 2022, after her amazing and full heart had done its work. She left shoes that cannot be filled. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Bob and Jim, sister Mary, in-laws Cecil and Elsie Allison, brothers-in-law Bob Wilcox, Del Haugen and Conrad Nelson, sister-in-law Nancy Wilcox, and son-in-law Ron Podesta. Helen is survived by her husband of 61 years Rev. James C. Allison, daughters and sons Julie, Hamlin, Jeanie (Eric), Hale (Terika), Jodi, Hans, Harlan and Jessica (Bryan), grandchildren Jordan (Alyssa), Josie (Jordan), Wesley, Austin, Wyatt, Douglas, Jacob (Bailey), Jett, Terissa, Aleena, Sean, Christopher, Adam, Hayley, Lydia, Emma and Audrey, great grandchildren Lydia, Isaac, Evelyn and Malakai, as well as sister Carmen Haugen, sisters-in-law Pauline Anderson and Billie Anderson, many beloved nephews, nieces and friends. Helen will always be in our hearts and loved and remembered. Her legacy will live on in all of us who love her. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, August 19th at 11:00 AM at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St. A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment, Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings, MN.