Helyn Levsen-Barrie

Mrs. Helyn D.(Mrs. Ferd) Levsen-Barrie, age 84 of Aberdeen, formerly of the Doland comunity died in Mother Joseph Manor at Aberdeen on Wednesday afternoon. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 10:00 AM in the St. Joseph Catholic Church at Doland with the Reverend's Thomas Vazhappily and John Lantsberger concelebrating. Burial will follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery at Redfield. Music will be presented by Audrey Remily as the organist with Rory Troske as the soloist. Casketbearers will be Lavoy Woodring, Bill Troske, Randy Mason, Dick Rahm, Dean Bymers & Lanny Hill. Visitation will be held 1 1/2 hours prior to the Mass at the Church on Saturday morning. Helyn was born in Doland, South Dakota on August 6, 1922 to Cyrus and Rose Hill. She lived on a farm south of Doland with her parents and six brothers and sisters until she graduated from Doland High School in 1940. After obtaining a teaching certificate from Northern State Teachers College in 1941, she taught school in a one-room school house for a year. During World War II she and her sister Ruth lived in Seattle building B-17 bombers for Boeing. After returning to Doland following the end of the war, she married Russell, R.W. Levsen in 1946. They moved to Minneapolis where R.W. worked for Ford Motor Company. In 1948 they returned to live in Doland and in 1949 moved to a farm six miles south of town. They made their home and raised their family on the farm until moving back into Doland in 1974. Mr. Levsen died in 1978. Helyn married Ferdinand Barrie in 1987. They lived in Doland until moving to Aberdeen in 1997 where they resided until she was admitted to Mother Joseph Manor just a few weeks before her death. Helyn loved music and joined future husband Russell in winning many singing awards in her youth. She was an eager volunteer piano and organ accompanist for church, school and community events. Another favorite pastime of hers was dancing, she and Ferd were familiar and frequent dance partners in the area and at Legion and Veterans social events around the state. They also enjoyed taking group bus tours and traveled to all corners of the country. She was a longtime member of St. Josephs Catholic and Altar Society in Doland, a member of Sacred Heart Church of Aberdeen, and the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary. Helyn is survived by her husband Ferd; her sister Marjorie (Irvin) Troske of Turton, three children; Mike (Stacy) Levsen of Aberdeen; Laurie (Jim) Gehner, Lead; and Julianne Hathaway, Green Bay, Wisconsin; Ferds children Butch (Betty) Barrie, Midland, Texas, Kathy (Zoltan) Trisna, Austin Texas, and Jackie Barrie, Houston, Texas; 12 Grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, her first husband Russell, her daughter Maribeth, three brothers, Vincent, Maurice, and Leo, and sisters Ruth and Mary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials directed to the Aberdeen Roncalli Schools music department. email condolences to www.furnessfuneralhome.com