Helen C Symens

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 23, 2004 at 1:30 PM in the Presbyterian Reformed Church United in Willow Lake with Pastor Chester Mason officiating. Burial will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Music will be provided by organist Eunis Meester and Gaylen Greensberg and Loris Kanniegeter singing. Casketbearers will be Bill and Mark Close, Curtis, Brent, Josh and Cody Symens. Visitation will be held at the Church in Willow Lake on Sunday from 4-6 PM and 1 hour prior to services on Monday. Helen C. (Mrs. John) Symens, age 87, lifetime resident of the Willow Lake community, died in the South Park Assisted Living Center at Bryant on Wednesday morning, February 18, 2004. She was born near Willow Lake on July 11, 1916, the daughter of Henry and Hattie (De Gunst) Carstensen. She attended rural schools near Willow Lake and then graduated from Willow Lake High School. Following her high school education, she attended and graduated with a teaching certificate from Madison Normal (Dakota State University) in Madison, SD. She returned to the Willow Lake area and taught in various country schools in the area until her marriage. On June 1, 1939 she was united in marriage to John Symens in the parsonage of the Reformed Church at Willow Lake. The couple lived and farmed south of Willow Lake. After failing health, she became a resident of South Park Assisted Living Center in January of 2003. Her husband also became a resident there recently. She was a member of the Presbyterian Reformed Church United and participated in some of the womens groups. Some of her hobbies included working in the yard, gardening, tending to her flowers, canning and keeping the house in order. Another favorite pastime was reading the Bible. Grateful for having shared in her life are her husband John of Willow Lake, sons, Ron Symens and wife JoLayne and Rick Symens and wife Sharon all of Willow Lake; six grandchildren, Curtis Symens and wife Denise, Brent, Terri, Patti, Josh and Cody Symens and 2 great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Morgan Symens. She also leaves a nephew, Bill Close and wife Marilyn of Watertown. Preceding her in death were her parents, a sister, Fannie Guderian and husband Dan.