Helen Mekailek-Colbert 91 of Rapid City passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

A visitation will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church on Wednesday August 9 at 4:30pm with a Rosary being said at 5:00 pm.  Her funeral mass will be held at St. Therese Church on Thursday, August 10 at 10:00 am.  She will be buried next to Chick in Glendale Arizona. Online condolences can be left at www.osheimschmidt.com

Helen was born to Nicholas and Anna (Maryniak) Sanayka in Mahanoy Plane, Pa.  Upon graduating from Gilberton High School, she enrolled in college and obtained a nursing degree in 1952. She met Charles (Chick) Mekailek and they were married in 1956 until his death in 1983.  During her early career of working in different hospital emergency departments, she learned of the importance of keeping her family safe by making sure that their vehicles were retrofitted with seatbelts before new cars came with seatbelts installed by the factory.  Her Catholic faith was very important to her, and she raised her children as faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Many of her fondest memories were from the time when Chick was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base which allowed her and her children to live in Hawaii. Helen met and married Gary Colbert in 2006 until his death in 2018.

Helen was preceded in death by 4 sisters and 2 brothers.  She is survived by her sister, Anna Mundy, son Charles Mekailek, Sanger, Tx., and daughters Nancy (Pete) Lien, Rapid City, Mary Baron, Phoenix, Az., and Michelle (Kim) Sarver, Rapid City, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.