Helen A. Brisson passed away peacefully at the age of 90, Sept. 8, 2024. She was welcomed into the arms of Jesus, surrounded by her loving family, at CentraCare Hospital in Sauk Centre.
Helen was born March 21, 1934, to Frank and Elizabeth (Groess) Strecker. She spent her childhood swimming, fishing and ice skating with her brothers and sisters at Coon Lake Beach. Through her school years, she was involved in 4-H, winning grand champion bread baker at the state fair. In high school, she was active with cheerleading and tumbling and was even crowned homecoming queen by the love of her life, John ‘Jay’ Brisson.
Helen and Jay married May 22, 1954, and spent 70 years building a beautiful life and raising their children Joe (Tammi) Brisson, Laurie (Loren) Beste, John (Joni) Brisson, Jeanne (Bryan) Bellefeuille and Barb (David) Jungers. They lived in Hugo before moving to Sauk Centre and eventually to Gillette, Wyoming, and Lehigh Acres, Florida. No matter where life took them, Helen spent a lifetime of caring for others. The constant hostess, Helen served others, working at Dairy Queen, Fingerhut and the Nadeau’s grocery store. Her caretaking heart brought joy and comfort to children at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Sauk Centre, the acting room mother at Hugo Elementary, and even as a paraprofessional at the Campbell County Elementary School in Gillette, Wyoming.
Helen loved retirement, with the ocean and seashells and her time in Florida but returned to Minnesota and found joy in spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cheered them on in sporting events, helped them learn to craft and shared those grand champion baking skills every chance she got. For years, she continued to host holidays and always made sure everyone had exactly what they needed, offering snacks, a drink and a big hug to everyone who entered her home.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Elizabeth Strecker; her brothers Mike, Charles, Frank, Tony and Dick; and sisters, Vic, Eva, Agnes and Audry.
She will be missed by her loving husband, Jay Brisson, her children and their spouses as well as 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
We sincerely appreciate the wonderful care she received at Fairway Pines in Sauk Centre as well as by Dr. Dunn and the wonderful nursing staff at CentraCare Hospital in Sauk Centre.
A celebration of her wonderful life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, St Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be at St. John the Baptist Cemetary in Hugo at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16.
