1931
Helen
2016
Helen Gray
April 7, 1931 — July 22, 2016
Helen B. Gray passed away at the age of 85, on Friday, July 22, 2016, at her home in Fergus Falls.
Helen was born on April 7, 1931, in the heart of the Turtle Mountains at St. John, North Dakota, to John Billgren, a recent Swedish immigrant, and his wife Myra (Johnson), a rural school mistress. Helen was raised on a farm where she learned many lessons of self-reliance and responsibility which served her well throughout her life. She attended St. John High School, graduating as valedictorian at the age of 16, in 1947.
Following graduation, Helen pursued an education in nursing at NDSU, Concordia and Moorhead State Technical College. While a student, Helen had the good fortune to meet William Pierce Gray, Jr., a recently returned WWII Navy veteran. They were wed on June 4, 1949. They resided in Fargo, North Dakota, and were blessed with the birth of three daughters. In 1958 the family moved to Fergus Falls.
In addition to her role as a dedicated mother, Helen held a number of jobs while raising her family. She assisted Dr. Britt, a local dentist, and worked as a lab technician for a University of Minnesota study conducted at the Fergus Falls State Hospital.
In 1972, Helen and Bill built a year-round home on Lake Clitherall, developing a beautiful property which earlier had been the rustic setting for many summertime and weekend family adventures, swimming, sailing and enjoying nature. While living at Clitherall, Helen continued her career explorations, becoming a real estate broker for Erks Realty in Battle Lake. Later, Helen tried her hand in the retail business, opening a women's clothing boutique with her good friend Mary Parson, called the Fashion Nook on Main Street in Battle Lake. She and Bill became active members of the First Baptist Church and also took an active role serving at the Community Food Shelf in town. Later, Helen and Bill moved back to Fergus Falls, where they joined Calvary Lutheran Church and participated in sweet fellowship with their church family. After her husband's death in 2006, Helen moved to the Village Cooperative where she made dear friends, and founded a book club for neighbors who shared her avid love of books and literature.
Helen was a masterful seamstress, gardener and cook, and used her talents to honor and delight family and friends with generous gifts both tangible and intangible. She was well known as an intellectually curious and principled woman with a "can do" outlook which inspired all around her to put forth their best efforts as well. She had a servant's heart which was a blessing to all her many friends and family. Helen will be missed greatly by all who knew her, and we are comforted to know that her eyes were on Christ her Savior, in whose presence she is now rejoicing.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents John and Myra Billgren, her husband William P. Gray, Jr., and her sister Arlene (Hub) Pearson. She is survived by daughters Susan (Stephen) Bradt of Hudson, Wisconsin, Linda (Parviz) Moin of Stanford, California and Cathy (Gary) Auseth of Fergus Falls; two sisters, Nancy (Tom) Peterson of Mapleton, Oregon and Mertie (Bill) Kurtti of Rock Lake, North Dakota; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Helen's Memorial Foler
Helen was born on April 7, 1931, in the heart of the Turtle Mountains at St. John, North Dakota, to John Billgren, a recent Swedish immigrant, and his wife Myra (Johnson), a rural school mistress. Helen was raised on a farm where she learned many lessons of self-reliance and responsibility which served her well throughout her life. She attended St. John High School, graduating as valedictorian at the age of 16, in 1947.
Following graduation, Helen pursued an education in nursing at NDSU, Concordia and Moorhead State Technical College. While a student, Helen had the good fortune to meet William Pierce Gray, Jr., a recently returned WWII Navy veteran. They were wed on June 4, 1949. They resided in Fargo, North Dakota, and were blessed with the birth of three daughters. In 1958 the family moved to Fergus Falls.
In addition to her role as a dedicated mother, Helen held a number of jobs while raising her family. She assisted Dr. Britt, a local dentist, and worked as a lab technician for a University of Minnesota study conducted at the Fergus Falls State Hospital.
In 1972, Helen and Bill built a year-round home on Lake Clitherall, developing a beautiful property which earlier had been the rustic setting for many summertime and weekend family adventures, swimming, sailing and enjoying nature. While living at Clitherall, Helen continued her career explorations, becoming a real estate broker for Erks Realty in Battle Lake. Later, Helen tried her hand in the retail business, opening a women's clothing boutique with her good friend Mary Parson, called the Fashion Nook on Main Street in Battle Lake. She and Bill became active members of the First Baptist Church and also took an active role serving at the Community Food Shelf in town. Later, Helen and Bill moved back to Fergus Falls, where they joined Calvary Lutheran Church and participated in sweet fellowship with their church family. After her husband's death in 2006, Helen moved to the Village Cooperative where she made dear friends, and founded a book club for neighbors who shared her avid love of books and literature.
Helen was a masterful seamstress, gardener and cook, and used her talents to honor and delight family and friends with generous gifts both tangible and intangible. She was well known as an intellectually curious and principled woman with a "can do" outlook which inspired all around her to put forth their best efforts as well. She had a servant's heart which was a blessing to all her many friends and family. Helen will be missed greatly by all who knew her, and we are comforted to know that her eyes were on Christ her Savior, in whose presence she is now rejoicing.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents John and Myra Billgren, her husband William P. Gray, Jr., and her sister Arlene (Hub) Pearson. She is survived by daughters Susan (Stephen) Bradt of Hudson, Wisconsin, Linda (Parviz) Moin of Stanford, California and Cathy (Gary) Auseth of Fergus Falls; two sisters, Nancy (Tom) Peterson of Mapleton, Oregon and Mertie (Bill) Kurtti of Rock Lake, North Dakota; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Helen's Memorial Foler
A service summary is not available
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Gray, please visit our flower store.