Helen (Anderson) Brinks

Helen Anderson Brinks was born on January 24, 1949, at the Tyler Community Hospital to Eunice and Francis (York) Anderson the 3rd of 5 children.  Helen was baptized and confirmed at the Lake Wilson Methodist Church.  Helen spent her growing years on the family farm helping with daily farm activities.  She graduated from Lake Wilson High School with the class of 1967.   Helen continued her education at Marshall at SMSU in finance and was the first ever graduate on June 8, 1969. 

Helen was united in marriage to Gary Brinks on June 14, 1969, at the Methodist church in Lake Wilson.  Early years were spent living in Denver and California while Gary was in the US Air Force and Vietnam. When Gary’s military service ended the young couple moved back to Minnesota and took up the passion of farming.   Helen and Gary worked side by side with daily milking, crop farming and farm chores as well as raising their 4 children.  Helen put her education to use and was employed at the Murray County Medical Center and later at the Southwest Regional Development Center in Slayton for 28 years.  Helen retired from the SRDC in Dec of 2014. 

In spare time Helen loved to spend time with her family and loved being a Grandma.  She enjoyed a clean flower bed, a clean grove and tended a large vegetable garden. She enjoyed spending time at their lake lot, family camping trips and traveling with Gary – most recently to Alaska and Mexico. Anyone who knew Helen knew her passion of serving others. She was an awesome cook and was very generous in sharing food with friends, family and church. She made the best RED applesauce and always had a rhubarb or apple dessert made fresh from her garden.

Helen was very active in her Garvin Congregational Church with serving on committees, printing the bulletins and played the piano and organ for services.   She served as the Mason Township clerk, treasurer of Garvin Legion Auxiliary and Disabled American Veterans. She also volunteered with Reading Buddies at MCC School, ACE, & American Cancer Society/Relay for Life. After Gary’s Cancer diagnosis in 1996, Helen and Gary both became dedicated Relay for Life team members. Being first diagnosed with cancer herself in 2014, Helen also was honored as the 2015 Honorary Chair at the Relay.  When Helen gave her speech for Relay in 2015, she said the “3 F’s” were most important to her. Those 3 F’s being Faith, Family and Friends. Helen’s cancer returned in 2020 and she fought right up to the very end still keeping the 3 F’s forefront in her life.   Helen passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of  72. 

Grateful for having shared her life are:  Her husband Gary, Slayton Pamela and Darrin Kimpson and their Children Brooke, Maria and Davis of Papillon NE, Laura and Brenan Clark and their children Carter and Kaden of Marshall MN, Aaron and Courtney Brinks and their daughters Annalise and Katelyn from Clive IA, Sara and Kyle Schmidt and their sons Luke and Trevor of Barnesville MN.

Her Siblings Nancy and Duane McDonnel of Saratoga, CA. Byron and Lynda Anderson also of Saratoga, Ca. Janet and Jim Voges of Slayton, Kevin and Maureen Anderson of Lake Wilson along with numerous Nieces and Nephews and close friends.

Preceded in death by her Parents, In-laws Gerrit and Henrietta Brinks.

Funeral Services

 Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural Slayton, MN on Monday, June 14, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. Chuck Anderson Rev, Darrin Kimpson officiating.  The organist is Bev Smith with special music by Brook Kimpson.  The pallbearers are Mitch Brinks, Ryan Brinks, Phil Brinks, Carter Clark, Kaden Clark, and Davis Kimpson.  Interment is at Bethel Cemetery rural Garvin, MN.  In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to Omaha Youth For Christ- Darrin Kimpson or Murray County Relay For Life Schaap Sanitation Team in care of Kathy Schreiber. 

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural

Slayton from 4-6 p.m. and also one hour prior to the services at the church on

Monday.

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