Helen Ragels

Helen Ragels age 68, rural Castlewood, the widow of Norman, died Friday night, January 20, 2017.

A memorial gathering will begin at 6PM on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with a DVD presentation beginning at 6:30 PM with a sharing and social time to follow in the Funeral Home fellowship area.  Burial will be private.

She was born Helen Veronica Dunlavy on September 19, 1948 at Conde, SD, the daughter of James Lawrence and Catherine Veronica (Nolan) Dunlavy.  Helen attended the Mallard Slough-Spring Valley #37 country school near Crocker and then Spring Valley #38 in Crocker, Clark High School and graduated from Bradley High School in 1966.

On August 24, 1968 she was united in marriage to Norman Lee Ragels at Sisseton.  The couple lived in various places during their marriage including Minneapolis, Belvidere, IL, White Bear Lake, MN and Castlewood.  While living in Castlewood, she had worked at Smith Equipment, DC Machining, and Twin City Die Casting.  Norman died on August 14, of 2014.

Some favorite pastimes of Helen's were sewing, embroidery, and working on stained glass.  Second to none though was spending time with her family and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, brothers, Dale and Bob and brothers-in-law, LaVoy Ragels and David Peterson.

Grateful for having shared in her life are children, Norman "Dean" Ragels of Castlewood and his children, Mikalya Ford and Aidan Ragels both of Watertown, Jill Lee (Jason) Gilliland of Fargo, ND and their children, Brodee, Katlynn, and Dylan Gilliland all of Fargo, ND.  She also leaves 10 siblings, Jane (Dennis) Zinda of Big Lake, MN, Catherine Ragels of Mitchell, Betty (LeRoy) Wasland of Watertown, Darrel (Pam)  Dunlavy of Huson, MT, Carol Peterson of Buffalo, MN, Tom (Merlene) Dunlavy of Claremont, SD, Bonnie (Fred) McDonald of Missoula, MT, Leo (Denise) Dunlavy of Andover, SD, Jan (Sandie) Dunlavy of Belle Plaine, KS, and Kim (Kenny) Lewis of Gresham, OR. She also leaves a sister-in-law, Peggy Dunlavy.

Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at

www.furnessfuneralhome.com