Helen Smith

HELEN M. SMITH

Coggon

Helen M. Smith, 89, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Barnum Community United Methodist Church, Barnum, Minn.

Survivors include her children, Dennis (Laurie) Smith, Scott (Patty) Smith, Jonna (Philip) Esser and Shawn (Teri) Smith; grandchildren, Shannon, Jason, Todd, Taryn, Riley, Justin, Angela, William and David; and her great-grandchildren, Nathan, Anya, Alex, Brenna, Chesney, Reecelyn, Sawyer, Adler, Bodhi, Evan and Emerie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Harlen, Cecil and Harrison Price; her sisters, Vera Price and Sarah Annis; and her granddaughter, Kelly Jean Smith.

Helen was born March 19, 1929, at home in Troy Mills, Iowa, to Clarence O. and Mary A. (Mote) Price. She attended school in Troy Mills and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. She then began her long career as a fifth-and sixth-grade teacher in Coggon. Helen was united in marriage to John A. Smith on Jan. 28, 1950. Together they had four children, Dennis (Laurie) Smith, Scott (Patty) Smith, Jonna (Philip) Esser and Shawn (Teri) Smith.

Helen became an accomplished pianist at an early age and began teaching piano lessons at the age of 12. Her father bought her a little blue Austin car to drive to her lessons. She continued to play for church, weddings, funerals and celebrations for the rest of her days for so many people.

In 1973, John and Helen moved to Richville, Minn. In 1980, they moved to Mahtowa, Minn. Helen worked for the First Bank of Barnum for several years and the Barnum Methodist Church, where she was very active and made many friends. In 2007, at the age of 78, Helen retired and made the difficult decision to leave her beloved home in Barnum and move to Perham to be closer to family. She lived independently in her own home until 2014 when she became a resident in Pine Harbor, Perham Living.