RAPID CITY-Helen Irene Carlson, 85, passed away Saturday, 28 May 2016 at the Golden Living Nursing Home, in Rapid City, South Dakota due to complications with an over 20 year battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Helen Irene Boyd was born on 16 November, 1930 in San Francisco, California to Gilbert and Irene Boyd. In 1956 Helen moved to Chamberlain SD and eventually made her way to Rapid City SD in 1969 where she called home for the rest of her days.

Helen pampered her family with elaborate from scratch home cooked meals. An avid reader, gardener, and bird watcher, she shared her life with her many friends with coffee and conversation over her dining room table. Her greatest joy was being a grandmother to her six grandchildren. Her family will miss her infectious laugh, her generous heart, and her tender care with which she completed every task.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Donald L. Carlson, children, Jay Henrich (Cheryl), Rapid City, SD, Daniel Carlson, Seattle, WA, David Carlson, Phoenix, AZ, Vonda Bellmore (William), Rosamond, CA and Jeanine Keiner, Chamberlain, SD. Grandchildren, Ashley Bellmore Smith (William), Yokota AB Japan, Vanessa Bellmore, Rosamond, CA. Jeremy, Weston, Brandon and Rochelle Keiner of Chamberlain, SD.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Irene and Gilbert Boyd.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 1 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, followed by a luncheon reception at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery at 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in the name of Helen Carlson.