Helen Ann Strong, 84, of Mitchell, died Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. 

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 9, at Zion Lutheran Church with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation with prayer service was Sunday, Aug. 8, at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Helen was born at Methodist Hospital in Mitchell on Oct. 29, 1936, to Leroy and Minnie (Deinert) Smith of Twin Lakes, Sanborn County. Her family later moved to a farm southwest of Mitchell. She attended Libson #20 and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1955. She then went to work for First National Bank.

She married Dannie Strong April 29, 1958, at Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell. Together they farmed in the Mt. Vernon and Betts areas and continued after moving to Sanborn County in 1973. She continued until she sold her last quarter of land at the age of 78.

Helen graduated from Mitchell Vo-Tech in 1985 and 1986.  She also graduated from DWU in 1994 with a BA in Business. She worked for H&R Block, Firesteel Healthcare Center, Jack’s Sinclair, Artesian Honey and Raven Industries in Sioux Falls. 

Helen participated in many clubs and activities including, Cow Bells Club, church choir, quilting club, and the funeral committee. She enjoyed bowling, cooking, baking, canning, raising chickens and selling eggs, puzzles and gardening.  

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Sherri (William) Brummett of Mitchell, Wesley (Sharon) Strong of Sanford, N.C., Randy Strong of Mitchell, Marty Strong of Denver, Colo., and Christy Strong-Larson (Jason) of Sioux Falls; ten grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; brother; Harvey (Cheryl) Smith of Mt. Vernon; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Smith of Mitchell and Shirley Fletcher of Joplin, Mo.; and brothers-in-law, Delmar Hemeyer of Spearfish, Willis (Billie) Strong of Liberal, Mo., and Frank Foley of El Dorado Springs, Mo.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dannie; son, Todd Strong, and infant son; daughter-in-law, Jane Strong; sister, Harriet Hemeyer; brothers, Harlan and Harley Smith; in-laws, Donald (Doris) Strong and Mary Foley. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to monument restoration at Graceland Cemetery.