The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Helen Rae VanderBerg was born Aug. 29, 1928 in Spencer, to Albert and Catherine (Rozeboom) VanderBerg. The family then moved to Orange City where she spent her childhood.

Following high school Helen went to Northwestern College, obtaining a two-year teaching degree. Her first job was in Rock Valley, with 30 kindergarteners!

On July 14, 1950, Helen married Audley (Aud) DeGraaf. Following their marriage they moved to Calumet where Aud taught and coached for three years. They then moved to Hartley, where Helen substitute taught while raising their girls. While in her 50s, Helen returned to college to get her Library Science degree. She was the Hartley Elementary School librarian until retirement.

Helen was the Trinity United Church of Christ organist for many years. She loved to travel, was an excellent baseball score keeper, an avid reader, wonderful knitter, a lover of tulips, the sun, and anything blue.

Helen passed away on Oct. 2, 2020 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Ann (Randal) Wubbels, of Holland, Neb.; Sue (Tom) Holmes, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Mary (Kevin) Wilson, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; five grandchildren: Aaron, Jarrod, Lucas, Rachel and Sydney; nine great-grandchildren: Austin, Tanner, Wyatt, Savannah, Jordan, Lainey, Hadlee, Kinley and Porter; her sister, Toni VanderBerg Tyndall; and Paul (Cindy) VanderBerg.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved Aud.