Helen Marie Langager

Helen Marie Langager, 98, of Willmar, Minnesota, died Friday, November 10, 2023 at CentraCare Rice Hospital in Willmar. Her memorial service will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, November 17th at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to her service. Burial will be at Clover Leaf Cemetery in Willmar. Helen’s service will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@VinjeLutheran ) Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org

Helen was born August 27, 1925, to Herman and Mabel (Schultz) Gilbert on a farm in Jackson County. She was the oldest of three children. When she was ten years old her family moved to a farm just south of Atwater before moving to a farm northwest of Willmar. Helen attended Willmar High School and graduated in 1943. She worked in the office at S & L Department Store, during this time she met her future husband. On August 31, 1947, Helen was married to Donald Langager at Vinje Lutheran Church. This union was blessed with two daughters, Karen and Sarah. Helen and Don moved to Kansas City where Helen worked at Ford Motor Company. After Don completed a program in watchmaking, they moved back to Willmar where she worked at the Bank of Willmar and eventually with Don at Langager Jewelry and Gifts. They continued to have 30 enjoyable years working together before retiring in 1989. Helen later worked as a realtor for Century 21 for nearly 20 years and finally retired at age 85. Helen moved into Independence Place in 2017 where she made many friends. She was always grateful for her friends and the relationships she made at Independence Place.

Helen enjoyed reading, playing cards and entertaining. But most of all she loved being with friends and family. Helen was a loving wife, mom, grandma and “gg” (great grandma). She always maintained a very active social calendar and that love of being with people filled her heart with joy.

Helen is survived by her daughters Karen (and Charles) Johnson of Overland Park, KS, and Sarah (and Harry) Mahood of Manhattan, NY; grandchildren Robert (and Nicole) Johnson and their children Hope, Wynne, and Etta, Elizabeth Johnson, Jessica Smith, Jason (and Brittnie) Smith, and Colin (and Tiffany) Smith; step-grandchildren Brittany (and Alexander) Brandt and their daughter, Frankie, and Max Mahood. She is also survived by her sister, Joyce Grills of Portland, OR, as well as several nieces, nephews and her Willmar friends, whom she considered family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, parents, and brother, Orville.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Marie Langager, please visit our floral store.