Helen J. Strubbe, 93, Sanborn

A funeral service for Helen J. Strubbe was held Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sanborn. Pastor Joseph Bangert officiated.

Pallbearers were Brian Kleve, Brett Kleve, Stewart Strubbe, Shawn Strubbe, Shane Strubbe and Ethan Strubbe. Interment was in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Gerrit and Johanna (De Kruif) Van’t Hof joyfully welcomed in the New Year with the birth of their second daughter, Helen Jean, on Jan. 1, 1930. She was born in Sanborn and grew up in that community along with her older sister, Alice. She received her education at Sanborn Community School, graduating with the Class of 1948.

Three weeks later, Helen became the bride of Glenn Ernest Strubbe on June 12, 1948, at the American Lutheran Church in Melvin. They began farming together northwest of Sanborn, raising their three children there and calling it “home” for the next 33 years.

Not only was Helen an active partner with Glenn in their farming operation, she managed to keep their household running smoothly and stayed involved with the kids’ school, church and 4-H activities. Over the years she had also been employed as a switchboard operator with the Sanborn Telephone Company, a salesclerk at Wolff’s Department Store in Sheldon, and gathered grain samples for a company in Fort Dodge. In later years she and Glenn operated the “G & H Chuckwagon,” providing food and refreshments at many farm and household auctions around the area.

When Glenn retired from farming in 1988, he and Helen moved to Sanborn and began to enjoy what town life had to offer. They were fortunate to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in June of 2013, before Glenn’s death the following month.

Helen was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the T.I.M. Club and the Mi’Ono Club, all in Sanborn. She had been on bowling and golf leagues, was a meticulous seamstress and quilter, and always looked forward to an afternoon of cards and coffee with her good friends. As her family grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren, some of Helen’s most treasured times were those spent on fishing trips with them or just congregating around her kitchen table…as long as they were together.

Helen passed from this life on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the age of 93 years, and is now reunited with loved ones who have gone before: her husband, Glenn; daughter, Barbara Strubbe; son-in-law, Lynn Kleve; her parents, Gerrit and Johanna Van’t Hof; and her sister, Alice.

Keeping her memory close at heart are her children: Greg and his wife, SuAnn Strubbe, of Graceville, Minn.; and Sandra Kleve, of Sanborn; five grandsons; 10 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and dear friends.