RAPID CITY-Helen E. Houska, 97, passed away August 18, 2016 at Clarkson Nursing Home .

Helen Elizabeth (Ellis) Houska was born June 26, 1919, one of 10 children to Frank and Sarah (Taylor) Ellis on a farm near Academy, SD. Helen married Levi W. Houska March 2, 1938 in Chamberlain, SD. Helen and Levi farmed until 1951 at which time Levi accepted a job at Black Hills Ordinance Depot, in Igloo, South Dakota. When the Black Hills Ordinance Depot was phased out, Levi transferred to Rapid City where he worked at Ellsworth Air Force Base until retirement. During that time, Helen was a stay at home mother raising three children. Later, when they were grown, she worked in the Rapid City School System for nearly 7 years and then at Newberry's Department Store in downtown Rapid City for 10 years until she retired in 1994. Her greatest joy was when her family was together enjoying her home cooking. She and Levi were avid campers and vegetable gardeners, and enjoyed playing cards or having coffee with friends. Helen also enjoyed crocheting, baking, bowling, and walking for exercise.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Levi, her son Ronald Frank Houska, her son-in-law Joseph Bollwerk and four brothers and three sisters.

She is survived by two daughters, Yvonne (Joseph) Bollwerk, Carol (Bill) McCollam and 3 grandchildren, William (Darylce) Bollwerk, Lonna (Mike) Mercier and Kristina McCollam. Great grandchildren are Samantha (Mark) Slocum, Carlee Bollwerk, Angela (Jared) Allen, Katherine Mercier and Mary Mercier; Rex Wiebe and Faber Wiebe: a new great great grandchild Mara Jo Slocum and two sister, Ruth Gruneig and Eleanor Stanton.

Mom is now and forever rejoicing in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as told in John: 3:16.