Helen Louise Griffin Heer DeRyk, 89, of Pierre, formerly of Murdo, died Friday, March 21 at Maryhouse in Pierre. Funeral Service will be at 2:00pm, Friday, March 28 at Community Bible Church in Murdo with visitation beginning one hour prior to services. Pastor Al Gwin officiating. Buriall be at the Murdo City Cemetery
Helen was born November 29, 1924, at Cedar Rapids, IA to Bert and Loreen (Sears) Griffin. Her father was a pastor and he moved his family several times over the years. Helen attended school through the eighth grade.
On June 20, 1943, she married Everett Heer in Salina, KS. To this union five children were born. While raising her family, she took in laundry and cared for some older men.
In 1968, Helen left Kansas and moved to Pierre, SD, where she worked at the St. Charles Hotel and the D & E Café.
She married Garret "Dutch" DeRyk on March 17, 1970, in Murdo, SD, where she continued to live until March of 2007, when she moved to Maryhouse in Pierre.
Helen worked at the Jones County Public School as custodian for many years and as a housekeeper for a local motel. She loved to camp, fish and can fruits and vegetables.
She is survived by two daughters: Judy (John) Spivey of Phoenix, AZ and Norma Heer of Pierre; brother, Everett (Helen) Griffin of Clinton, NC; sister-in-law, Honour May (Wendell) Weichert of Rapid City; special friend Betty Lou Mann, Murdo; three grandchildren: Donna (Travis) Leib, David (Jamie) Spivey and Daniel (Amputi) Spivey; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Naomi; daughter, Donna; son, Robert; her parents; brother, Harold; and both of her husbands: Everett Heer and Garret "Dutch" DeRyk.
Memorials may be directed to the Jones County Ambulance, PO Box 305, Murdo, SD 57559